a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
"The sudden drop in his blood sugar triggered an intense hunger that made him dizzy and weak."
strong desire for something (not food or drink)
"a thirst for knowledge"
"hunger for affection"
A need or compelling desire for food.
"The long hike left him with a gnawing hunger that made his stomach rumble loudly."
In plain English: Hunger is the strong feeling that makes you want to eat food because your body needs energy.
"The sudden hunger made him reach for an apple immediately."
feel the need to eat
"After running five miles, I felt an intense hunger that made me reach immediately for a sandwich."
To be in need of food.
"The long hike left everyone feeling hungry and ready to eat."
From Middle English hunger, from Old English hungor ("hunger, desire; famine"), from Proto-West Germanic hungr, from Proto-Germanic hungruz, hunhruz ("hunger"), from Proto-Indo-European kenk- ("to burn, smart, desire, hunger, thirst"). Cognate with West Frisian honger, hûnger ("hunger"), Dutch honger ("hunger"), German Low German Hunger ("hunger"), German Hunger ("hunger"), Swedish hunger ("hunger"), Icelandic hungur ("hunger").