Thirst — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈthərst/

Meaning & Definition of Thirst

Thirst (noun)

  1. a sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat associated with a desire for liquids; also, the bodily condition (as of dehydration) that induces this sensation
  2. a desire or need to drink
  3. an ardent desire, craving, longing

Thirst (verb)

  1. to feel thirsty, suffer thirst
  2. to crave vehemently and urgently

Thirst (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a strong wish for something

    "his thirst for knowledge is evident in his book-filled house"

    similar: appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, jones (slang), letch, longing, lust, passion, pining, thirstiness, urge, yearning, yen
    related: compulsion, impulse, impulsion, will, zeal, liking, love, taste, weakness, eagerness, impatience, want, wish, necessity, need, requirement, obsession, acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, covetousness, cupidity, greed, greediness, rapaciousness, rapacity, cacoëthes, mania
    near: abhorrence, abomination, allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, distaste, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, apathy, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

  2. urgent desire or interest

    "an unquenchable thirst for travel that has led her to the far corners of the globe"

    similar: appetite, ardor, avidity, avidness, desirousness, eagerness, enthusiasm, excitement, hunger, impatience, keenness, lust
    related: alacrity, quickness, ambition, gusto, zest, appetence, appetency, fervency, passion, warmth, zeal, amenability, readiness, willingness
    opposite: apathy, indifference
    near: casualness, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern, aloofness, detachment, impassivity, languidness, languor, halfheartedness, lukewarmness

Related Entry: Thirst (for) (verb)

Thirst (for) is a different word from Thirst. The synonyms below are for thirst (for), not for thirst.

  1. to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy

    "they have always thirsted for a more affluent lifestyle than their salaries would allow"

    similar: ache (for), covet, crave, desiderate, desire, die (for), hanker (for or after), hunger (for), itch (for), jones (for) (slang), long (for), lust (for or after), pant (after), pine (for), repine (for), salivate (for), sigh (for), want, wish (for), yearn (for), yen (for), set one's heart on
    related: spoil (for), adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, love, relish, revel (in), favor, prefer, admire, appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value
    near: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, decline, refuse, reject, spurn

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Thirst

The most common words with a similar meaning to Thirst:

Slang: jones
appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, letch, longing, lust, passion, pining, thirstiness, urge, yearning, yen, ardor, avidity, avidness, desirousness, eagerness, enthusiasm, excitement, impatience, keenness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Thirst

Words with the opposite meaning of Thirst:

apathy, indifference

Related Words for Thirst

compulsion, impulse, impulsion, will, zeal, liking, love, taste, weakness, want, wish, necessity, need, requirement, obsession, acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, covetousness, cupidity, greed, greediness, rapaciousness, rapacity, cacoëthes, mania, alacrity, quickness, ambition, gusto

Near Antonyms of Thirst

abhorrence, abomination, allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, distaste, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern, casualness, aloofness, detachment, impassivity, languidness, languor, halfheartedness, lukewarmness

Word Forms of Thirst

Inflections: thirsted, thirsting, thirsts

Derived words: thirster (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Thirst

Middle English þurst, þrust, þirst, þrist, going back to Old English þurst, going back to Germanic *þurstu- (whence also West Frisian toarst "thirst," Old Saxon thurst, Old High German thurst, durst, beside an n-stem in Old Norse þorsti "thirst," Gothic þaurstei), going back to Indo-European *tr̥s-t- (whence also Old Irish tart "dryness, drought, thirst"), nominal derivative from a verbal base *ters- "dry up, become thirsty," whence Gothic gaþaursana "withered" (accusative plural participle, from a strong verb *gaþairsan "to wither," if not from gaþaursnan "to dry up, wither"), Greek térsomai, térsesthai "to become dry, dry up"; also from a present-tense formation *tr̥s-i̯e-, Old English þyrred "dried out," Gothic þaursjan "to be thirsty," Sanskrit tṛṣyati "(s/he) is thirsty"; from a causative *tors-éi̯e- Old High German derren "to make dry," Old Norse þerra, Latin torreō, torrēre "to heat so as to dry, scorch, parch, (of food) roast, bake," Sanskrit tarṣáyati "(s/he) makes thirsty," Hittite taršant- "drying"

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Thirst

thirst trap, die of/from thirst, quench one's/someone's thirst, slake one's/someone's thirst

Frequently Asked Questions about Thirst

What does "Thirst" mean?

"Thirst" means a sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat associated with a desire for liquids; also, the bodily condition (as of dehydration) that induces this sensation. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat associated with a desire for liquids; also, the bodily condition (as of dehydration) that induces this sensation. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Thirst"?

Other words for "Thirst" include appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger and itch. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Thirst" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Thirst"?

There are 64 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Thirst". Common alternatives include appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, jones and letch.

What is the opposite of "Thirst"?

Antonyms of "Thirst" include apathy and indifference. Near antonyms include abhorrence, abomination, allergy and averseness.

How do you use "Thirst" in a sentence?

Examples of "Thirst" in a sentence: "his thirst for knowledge is evident in his book-filled house"; "an unquenchable thirst for travel that has led her to the far corners of the globe".

Is "Thirst" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Thirst" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Thirst"?

"Thirst" is pronounced /ˈthərst/.

What is the origin of the word "Thirst"?

"Thirst" comes from Middle English þurst, þrust, þirst, þrist, going back to Old English þurst, going back to Germanic *þurstu- (whence also West Frisian toarst "thirst," Old Saxon thurst, Old High German thurst, durst, beside an n-stem in Old Norse þorsti "thirst," Gothic þaurstei), going back to Indo-European *tr̥s-t- (whence also Old Irish tart "dryness, drought, thirst"), nominal derivative from a verbal base *ters- "dry up, become thirsty," whence Gothic gaþaursana "withered" (accusative plural participle, from a strong verb *gaþairsan "to wither," if not from gaþaursnan "to dry up, wither"), Greek térsomai, térsesthai "to become dry, dry up"; also from a present-tense formation *tr̥s-i̯e-, Old English þyrred "dried out," Gothic þaursjan "to be thirsty," Sanskrit tṛṣyati "(s/he) is thirsty"; from a causative *tors-éi̯e- Old High German derren "to make dry," Old Norse þerra, Latin torreō, torrēre "to heat so as to dry, scorch, parch, (of food) roast, bake," Sanskrit tarṣáyati "(s/he) makes thirsty," Hittite taršant- "drying". First known use: before 12th century.