Pronunciation: KRAY-ving
Simple meaning
Craving means a strong desire, hunger, or urge for something.
Today, people often use the word casually. Someone may say they are craving coffee, sugar, pizza, or sleep. In Big Book study, the word carries more weight. It is often used to describe a powerful reaction connected with alcohol.
Older meaning
Older dictionary definitions commonly describe craving as an intense desire, strong longing, or urgent appetite.
That older meaning matters because craving is not just a mild preference. It points to a strong inward demand, something that can feel pressing, urgent, or difficult to ignore.
Why this word matters
In Big Book reading, “craving” is closely connected with the idea that alcoholics may react differently after taking alcohol.
The word helps describe what may happen after drinking begins. It is not only about wanting a drink before alcohol is taken. It can also describe the powerful desire for more once the process has started.
That distinction matters. A person may honestly intend to have only one or two drinks, but after drinking begins, something stronger than ordinary desire may appear.
Common misunderstanding
A common misunderstanding is to treat craving as simply “wanting alcohol.”
In this study context, craving is more serious than ordinary wanting. It suggests a strong urge or appetite that may become difficult to control, especially after alcohol is taken.
A useful question is:
Is this word describing a normal desire, or is it describing a reaction that helps explain why stopping after starting can become so difficult?
Study note
This website works best with a copy of the Big Book in your hand. Look for the word “craving” in the Doctor’s Opinion and nearby discussion, then compare the word’s older meaning with how it is used in context.
Related words
allergy
phenomenon
obsession
problem
alcoholic