devour

To eat something very quickly because you are very hungry or eager.

• He devoured his sandwich.
• The children devoured the cake in minutes.
• A hungry wolf can devour a large meal quickly.

Similar words: wolf down, gobble up

Common phrases: devour a meal, devour a sandwich, devour something hungrily

To destroy or swallow up something very quickly.

• Fire devoured the wooden house.
• The flames devoured acres of forest.
• We watched the blaze devour everything in its path.

Similar words: consume, engulf, destroy

Common phrases: fire devour something, devour a forest, devour whole buildings

To read, watch, or study something with great interest and eagerness.

• She devoured the book overnight.
• He devours every article about space.
• The audience devoured every detail of her story.

Similar words: drink in

Common phrases: devour a book, devour every word, devour with your eyes

To fill someone’s mind completely with a strong, often painful feeling.

• Grief devoured him after her death.
• Jealousy was devouring her thoughts.
• He felt devoured by guilt whenever he remembered the accident.

How to use it: be devoured by something (She was devoured by anxiety while waiting for news.)

Similar words: consume, overwhelm

Common phrases: devour someone’s mind, devour someone with grief