crave
gb/kɹˈeɪv/ us/kɹˈeɪv/
B2
English
vágyik, megkíván, kér
VERB
B2
1
vágyik
B1
Usage pattern:
crave [something] / crave to do [something]
After a week in the city, she craved fresh air and quiet.
Egy hét városban töltött idő után friss levegőre és nyugalomra vágyott.
He craves a life with more meaning and less stress.
Tartalmasabb, kevésbé stresszes életre vágyik.
I’m craving a chance to start over.
Learner examples
I crave a holiday.
Nagyon vágyom egy nyaralásra.
She craves more time with her family.
Arra vágyik, hogy több időt tölthessen a családjával.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse crave with carve. Also, you can say “crave something” without “for” (though “crave for” exists).
Meaning
want something very strongly
Collocations
crave something
|crave to do something
|crave freedom
|crave change
|crave adventure
|crave comfort
|crave peace
|crave recognition
|crave companionship
|crave a break
Synonyms
long for (Often suggests missing something over time.)
|
yearn for (More emotional and sometimes more intense.)
|
desire (More general and sometimes more formal.)
Antonyms
be indifferent to (Shows no strong desire or interest.)
|
not want (Neutral opposite of wanting.)
Themes
emotions
|desires
|daily_life
Definition
to want something a lot
To want something very strongly, especially because you feel you need it or miss it.
VERB
B2
2
megkíván
B1
Usage pattern:
crave [food/drink]
When I’m stressed, I crave chocolate.
Amikor stresszes vagyok, megkívánom a csokoládét.
She craved something salty after the long run.
A hosszú futás után megkívánt valami sósat.
Lately he’s been craving coffee every afternoon.
Learner examples
I crave pizza today.
Ma pizzát kívánok.
They crave something sweet.
Valami édeset kívánnak.
Common mistake:
Crave is usually used for specific foods (e.g., chocolate), not for general hunger (use “be hungry”).
Meaning
strongly want a particular food
Collocations
crave chocolate
|crave something sweet
|crave salty food
|crave carbs
|crave sugar
|crave caffeine
|crave coffee
|crave a cigarette
|crave alcohol
|crave ice
Synonyms
have a craving for (Common alternative phrasing; slightly less direct than crave.)
|
hanker for (More informal; often sounds a bit old-fashioned.)
Antonyms
lose your appetite for (To stop wanting a particular food.)
|
feel sick at the thought of (Strong dislike that prevents eating.)
Themes
food_and_drink
|health
|daily_life
Definition
to really want a certain food or drink
To have a strong desire to eat or drink something, often suddenly or repeatedly.
VERB
C1
3
vágyik
B1
Usage pattern:
crave [attention/approval/affection/validation]
As a new manager, she craved approval from her team.
Új vezetőként nagyon vágyott a csapata elismerésére.
He craved affection but didn’t know how to ask for it.
Szeretetre vágyott, de nem tudta, hogyan kérje.
After months working remotely, they craved human contact.
Learner examples
He craves attention.
Figyelemre vágyik.
She craves approval.
Elismerésre vágyik.
Common mistake:
Crave often implies an intense need; avoid using it for small, casual wants (use “want” or “would like”).
Meaning
strongly want attention or affection
Collocations
crave attention
|crave approval
|crave affection
|crave validation
|crave praise
|crave reassurance
|crave love
|crave human contact
Synonyms
need (More general; can sound less dramatic than crave.)
|
seek (Emphasizes active looking for it.)
Antonyms
shun (To deliberately avoid people or attention.)
|
avoid (To try not to get attention or contact.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|social_life
Definition
to really want love, attention, or approval
To strongly want attention, approval, affection, or emotional support from other people.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
4
kér
A1
Usage pattern:
crave [something] (of/from [someone])
I crave your forgiveness for the misunderstanding.
Kérem a bocsánatát a félreértésért.
We crave your permission to extend the deadline by one week.
Kérjük az engedélyét, hogy a határidőt egy héttel meghosszabbíthassuk.
He craved mercy, but the judge remained unmoved.
Learner examples
I crave your forgiveness.
Kérem a bocsánatát.
We crave your permission.
Kérjük az engedélyét.
Common mistake:
This sense is formal and uncommon in everyday conversation; in most situations use “ask” or “request.”
Meaning
ask for something formally
Collocations
crave permission
|crave forgiveness
|crave mercy
|crave your patience
|crave your understanding
|crave leave to do something
Synonyms
request (Neutral formal alternative; much more common.)
|
beg (More emotional and less formal.)
Antonyms
refuse (To say you will not give or do something requested.)
|
decline (More polite/formal way to refuse.)
Themes
formal_communication
Definition
to ask for something very politely (formal)
To ask for something in a very polite, formal, or earnest way.
Grammar
Dictionary form
crave
IPA
GB/kɹˈeɪv/
US/kɹˈeɪv/
Syllables & stress
crave (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (crave)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: crave
- 3rd Person Singular: craves
- Present Participle: craving
- Past: craved
Word family
Forms
Expressions
crave leave (to do something)
1/kɹˈeɪv lˈiv tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
archaic
formally ask permission
a very old-fashioned way to say “ask permission”
Examples
- May I crave leave to add one final point before we vote?
- Counsel craved leave to address the court on a procedural matter.
- I crave leave to withdraw my earlier remark.
i crave your indulgence
1/ˈaɪ kɹˈeɪv jˈʊɹ ɪndˈʌld͡ʒəns/
fixed phrase
formal
polite request for patience
a very formal way to ask people to be patient
Examples
- I crave your indulgence while I explain the reasons for this decision.
- I crave your indulgence for a few minutes as we work through the details.
- I crave your indulgence if my voice is a little hoarse today.
Learner examples
- I crave your indulgence while I explain.
i crave your pardon
1/ˈaɪ kɹˈeɪv jˈʊɹ pˈɑɹdən/
fixed phrase
formal
polite apology for interrupting
a very formal way to say “sorry”
Examples
- I crave your pardon for interrupting, but there’s an urgent call for you.
- I crave your pardon—did you say Tuesday or Thursday?
- I crave your pardon for the confusion in my earlier message.
Learner examples
- I crave your pardon for interrupting.