Standard Lemma guide

greedy

adj · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈɡɹiːdi/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -iːdi
  • CMU ARPABET: G R IY1 D IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having greed; consumed by selfish desires.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Prone to overeat.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Tending to match as much text as possible.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: regular expressions

Examples

  • This regular expression performs a greedy match.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: lazy, nongreedy, reluctant

4

adj

Meaning 4

That tries to find the global optimum by finding the local optimum at each stage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computer, computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, science, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: nongreedy

5

adj

Meaning 5

Greedily sought or pursued.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

wanting to eat or drink more than one can reasonably consume

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • don't be greedy with the cookies

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adjective satellite

Meaning 7

immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they are avaricious and will do anything for money
  • casting covetous eyes on his neighbor's fields
  • a grasping old miser
  • grasping commercialism
  • greedy for money and power
  • grew richer and greedier
  • prehensile employers stingy with raises for their employees

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: avaricious, covetous, grabby, grasping, prehensile

Antonyms: none provided

8

adjective satellite

Meaning 8

(often followed by `for') ardently or excessively desirous

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • avid for adventure
  • an avid ambition to succeed
  • fierce devouring affection
  • the esurient eyes of an avid curiosity
  • greedy for fame

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: avid, devouring(a), esurient

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English gredy, from Anglian Old English grēdiġ (“greedy, hungry, eager”) (cognate West Saxon form grǣdiġ), from Proto-Germanic *grēdagaz (“hungry”), from Proto-Germanic *grēdaz, *grēduz, *grēdô (“hunger”), from Proto-Indo-European *gher-. Equivalent to greed + -y. Cognate with Old Saxon grādag (“greedy”), Dutch graag (“gladly, willingly”), Old High German grātag (“greedy”), Danish grådig (“greedy”), Norwegian Bokmål grådig (“greedy”) (from Old Norse gráðigr (“greedy”), gráði (“greed, hunger”)), Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌴𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍃 (grēdags, “hungry”). Sanskrit गृद्धि (gṛddhi, “greed”) is a false cognate.

Across languages

Translations

185 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: gulsig — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Albanian: lakmitar — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Arabic: طَمَّاع (ṭammāʕ) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Arabic: جَشِع (jašiʕ) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Arabic: بَخِيل (baḵīl) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Arabic: بخيل (baḵīl) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Armenian: ագահ (agah) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Bashkir: ҡомһоҙ (qomhoź) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Bashkir: ҡомағай (qomağay) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Bashkir: хирес (xires) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Belarusian: хці́вы (xcívy) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Belarusian: пра́гны (práhny) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Belarusian: хі́жы (xížy) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Bulgarian: а́лчен (álčen) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Catalan: avariciós — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Catalan: cobdiciós — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Catalan: cobejós — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Catalan: avar — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Catalan: àvid — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Chinese Cantonese: 貪心 /贪心 (taam1 sam1) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Chinese Mandarin: 貪婪的 /贪婪的 (tānlán-de) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Chinese Mandarin: 貪心的 /贪心的 (tānxīn-de) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Czech: chtivý — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Czech: chamtivý — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Czech: hamižný — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Dalmatian: golaus — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Dalmatian: gulaus — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Danish: grådig — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Dutch: hebzuchtig — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Esperanto: avida — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Estonian: ahne — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Finnish: ahne — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • French: avaricieux — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • French: cupide — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • French: avide — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • West-Frisian: gjirrich — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Galician: cobizoso — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Galician: degorado — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Galician: eigoto — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Galician: intivioso — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Gallurese: inguddòssu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Gallurese: strùziu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • German: gierig — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • German: habgierig — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • German: habsüchtig — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Greek: άπληστος (áplistos) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Ancient Greek: πλεονέκτης (pleonéktēs) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Ancient Greek: φιλοκερδής (philokerdḗs) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Hebrew: חמדן (khamdán) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Hindi: लालची (lālcī) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Hindi: लोभी (lobhī) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Hungarian: mohó — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Hungarian: kapzsi — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Icelandic: gráðugur — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Ido: avida — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Indonesian: rakus — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Indonesian: serakah — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Indonesian: tamak — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Indonesian: loba — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Ingrian: ahmo — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Irish: cíocrach — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Irish: amplach — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Irish: amplúil — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Irish: antlásach — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Irish: alpach — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Irish: santach — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Italian: ingordo — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Italian: avido — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Jamaican Creole: craven — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Japanese: 貪欲な (don'yoku-na) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Kabuverdianu: laskadu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Kabuverdianu: langon — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Kalmyk: ховдг (xovdg) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Khmer: លោភលន់ (loŭphlôn) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Khmer: លោភ (loop) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Khmer: លោភោ (loophoo) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Korean: 욕심 많다 (yoksim manta) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Korean: 탐욕스럽다 (tamyokseureopda) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Central Kurdish: چاو برسی (çaw birsî) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Latin: avārus — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Latin: avidus — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Latin: trahāx — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Lun Bawang: mangaa — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Macedonian: алчен (alčen) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Māori: touapo — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Khiamniungan Naga: wāmwāmnyū — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Nepali: लोभी (lobhī) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Norman: grédin — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Norwegian Bokmål: grådig — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: grådig — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: grådug — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Occitan: cobejós — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Occitan: avid — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Occitan: avar — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Old English: ġīfre — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Persian: حریص (haris) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Persian: آزمند (âzmand) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Persian: رژد (ražd) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Plautdietsch: bejierich — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Polish: chciwy — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Polish: skąpy — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Portuguese: ganancioso — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Portuguese: avaro — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Punjabi: ਲਾਲਚੀ (lālcī) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Romanian: lacom — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Romanian: zgârcit — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Russian: жа́дный (žádnyj) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Russian: а́лчный (álčnyj) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Russian: ненасы́тный (nenasýtnyj) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Russian: скупо́й (skupój) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Russian: ска́редный (skárednyj) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Sardinian: mandigadore — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Sardinian: ispasteradu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Sardinian: isgrasumìdu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Campidanese Sardinian: abbramiu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Campidanese Sardinian: asurídu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Campidanese Sardinian: asuríu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Sardinian: alarpu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Sardinian: esurídu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Sardinian: isurídu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Sardinian: abbramidu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Sassarese: abbramidu — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Sassarese: ucciòni — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Scottish Gaelic: gionach — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Scottish Gaelic: sanntach — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Serbo-Croatian: похлепан — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Serbo-Croatian: pohlepan — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Slovak: chtivý — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Slovak: chamtivý — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Slovak: hrabivý — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Slovak: nenásytný — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Slovene: pohlepen — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Spanish: codicioso — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Spanish: avaricioso — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Spanish: ávido — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Spanish: avaro — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Spanish: avorazado — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Spanish: angurriento — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Spanish: avariento — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Sranan Tongo: gridi — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Swedish: girig — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Telugu: పొగరు (pogaru) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Thai: โลภ (lôop) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Tibetan: ཧམ་པ་ཚ་པོ (ham pa tsha po) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Tocharian B: entsesse — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Turkish: açgözlü — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Ottoman Turkish: آج (ac) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Ottoman Turkish: حریص (haris) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Ukrainian: жа́дібний (žádibnyj) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Ukrainian: жаді́бний (žadíbnyj) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Ukrainian: жа́дний (žádnyj) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Ukrainian: жадни́й (žadnýj) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Ukrainian: жадли́вий (žadlývyj) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Unami: xëlètie — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Vietnamese: tham — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Vietnamese: tham lam — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Walloon: tinciveus — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Welsh: barus — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Welsh: gwancus — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Woiwurrung: buladu gaang — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Yiddish: זשעדנע (zhedne) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Yiddish: גיריק (girik) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Yiddish: אײַנרײַסעריש (aynrayserish) — having greed; consumed by selfish desires
  • Arabic: شرِه — prone to overeat
  • Arabic: نهِم — prone to overeat
  • Bashkir: ҡомһоҙ (qomhoź) — prone to overeat
  • Bulgarian: лаком (lakom) — prone to overeat
  • Chinese Cantonese: 為食 /为食 (wai6 sik6) — prone to overeat
  • Czech: nenasytný — prone to overeat
  • Finnish: ahnas — prone to overeat
  • French: gourmand — prone to overeat
  • German: gefräßig — prone to overeat
  • Hungarian: falánk — prone to overeat
  • Irish: alpach — prone to overeat
  • Irish: gionach — prone to overeat
  • Italian: goloso — prone to overeat
  • Kabuverdianu: laskadu — prone to overeat
  • Kabuverdianu: gulós — prone to overeat
  • Kabuverdianu: guloze — prone to overeat
  • Macedonian: лаком (lakom) — prone to overeat
  • Portuguese: guloso — prone to overeat
  • Spanish: glotón — prone to overeat
  • Spanish: tragón — prone to overeat
  • Tagalog: matakaw — prone to overeat
  • Walloon: golafe — prone to overeat