[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/peckish/)

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# peckish

adjective (informal, UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ)

«peckish» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

(informal) A little bit hungry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peckish/#m1)

### In the lessons

An everyday British word: «I'm feeling a bit peckish» means you'd like a snack, not a big meal. It comes from birds pecking at food. In stories it gives a friendly, casual tone.

### Examples

- I'm a bit peckish; can I have a biscuit? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peckish/#x1)
- Are you peckish? There's fruit in the bowl. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peckish/#x2)
- By eleven o'clock I always feel peckish. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peckish/#x3)
- The cat looks peckish. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peckish/#x4)
- Grandad gets peckish before bed and eats toast. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peckish/#x5)
- If you're peckish after school, have an apple. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peckish/#x6)

### Note

Informal adjective, mostly British, Irish and Australian English; less common in the USA. It means only a little hungry; «starving» or «ravenous» means very hungry.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «peckish» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peckish/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«peckish» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/peckish.html) on Mova free.