noun · verb · 10 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
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thûrst
Australian, Received-Pronunciation:/θɜːst/
US:/θɝst/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Scotland:/θɪɹst/
New-Zealand:/θøːst/
/θeːst/Liverpool, fair–fur merger
/θɛːst/Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
/fɜːst/th-fronting
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)st
homophone: first (th-fronting)
CMU ARPABET:TH ER1 S T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A sensation of dryness in the throat associated with a craving for liquids, produced by deprivation of drink, or by some other cause (such as fear, excitement, etc.) which stops the secretion of the pharyngeal mucous membrane.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
We developed a great thirst during our hike.
He had quite a thirst on and so headed to his favourite Dublin pub.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The condition producing the sensation of thirst.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
If you go out in the desert for long without water, the thirst can drive you mad.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A want and eager desire (for something); a craving or longing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, figuratively, uncountable
Examples
She had a real thirst for news and that greatly helped her career.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Sexual lust.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, figuratively, uncountable
Examples
He had a thirst for her and she had the same for him.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To be thirsty.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To desire vehemently.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, usually
Examples
I thirst for knowledge and education will sate me.
to be thirsted for one's blood
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
strong desire for something (not food or drink)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a thirst for knowledge
hunger for affection
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hunger, hungriness, thirstiness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: desire
8
noun
Meaning 8
a physiological need to drink
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: thirstiness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: drive
Narrower terms: dehydration, polydipsia
9
verb
Meaning 9
have a craving, appetite, or great desire for
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: crave, hunger, starve, lust
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: desire, want
10
verb
Meaning 10
feel the need to drink
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: ache, smart, hurt
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *þurstu Old English þurst Old English þyrstaninflu. Middle English thirst English thirst From Middle English thirst, thurst, from Old English þurst, from Proto-West Germanic *þurstu, from Proto-Germanic *þurstuz, from Proto-Indo-European *ters- (“dry”). Germanic cognates include Old High German thurst, Middle High German durst, German Durst, Old Saxon thurst, Old Dutch thursti, Middle Dutch dorst, dorste, Dutch dorst, Old Norse þorsti (Swedish törst, Icelandic þorsti, Faroese tosti, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål tørst, Norwegian Nynorsk tørste). Indo-European cognates include Ancient Greek τέρσομαι (térsomai), Albanian djersë (“sweat”), Sanskrit तृष्णा (tṛṣṇā, “desire; thirst”), Sanskrit तृष्यति (tṛ́ṣyati), Latin terra, Latin torridus.
Across languages
Translations
306 source translations are retained for this English entry.
