Voracious means having an extremely eager, almost insatiable appetite for something. It describes hunger or desire so intense it seems impossible to satisfy.

Most commonly, voracious describes physical hunger. A voracious eater consumes food rapidly and in large quantities, like a teenager who devours three sandwiches after soccer practice and immediately asks what’s for dinner. Growing animals are often voracious: bear cubs need to eat constantly, and baby birds seem to always be hungry.

But voracious can also describe intense mental hunger. A voracious reader tears through books one after another, always eager for the next story. They might finish a 400-page novel in two days and immediately start another. Someone with a voracious curiosity asks endless questions, always wanting to learn more. A student voracious for knowledge might read far beyond their assignments, explore topics deeply, and never seem satisfied with simple answers.

The word suggests something almost overwhelming in its intensity. It’s stronger than just “eager” or “enthusiastic.” A voracious appetite, whether for food, books, or learning, is one that’s nearly impossible to fill completely.