Definition

Noun: An intense, urgent, and often persistent desire or longing for a specific thing, which can be physical (like food or a substance) or psychological/emotional (like affection or an experience).

Usage

• Craving is used to describe a powerful want that is difficult to ignore or control. It is stronger than a simple "want" or "wish."
• It is often followed by the preposition "for" (a craving something).
• It can also be used with "to" and a verb in its infinitive form when the desire is to perform an action.

Examples

• Pregnant women sometimes have unusual cravings for specific foods.
• After quitting sugar, he struggled with intense cravings for chocolate.
• She felt a sudden craving for her grandmother's homemade soup.
• He had a deep craving to travel and see the world.
• The advertisement was designed to create a craving for the new product.

Advanced Usage

• "to have a craving": This is the most common structure to express experiencing this intense desire.
  • I have a craving for something salty.
• "to satisfy a craving": To fulfill or appease the intense desire.
  • A piece of fruit finally satisfied my craving for something sweet.

Variants and Related Words

• Crave (verb): To feel a powerful desire for something.
  • The exhausted worker craved a good night's sleep.
• Craved (adjective): Greatly desired.
  • The award was the most craved recognition in the industry.

Synonyms

• Longing: A strong, persistent wish or desire, often with a sentimental or yearning quality.
• Yearning: A deep, melancholic, or passionate longing.
• Hunger: A strong desire, metaphorically extending from the physical need for food.
• Urge: A strong, often sudden, impulse or desire to do something.

Antonyms

• Aversion: A strong dislike or disinclination.
• Disgust: A feeling of revulsion or profound disapproval.
• Indifference: Lack of interest, concern, or sympathy.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• Craving satisfaction: The act of fulfilling an intense desire. This phrase is often used in contexts like marketing or psychology.
  • The instant availability of fast food facilitates immediate craving satisfaction.

Noun

1. an intense desire for some particular thing