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Prepositions after adjectives

Thirsty with different prepositions

Thirsty for is the standard pattern for wanting drink or strongly desiring something. Thirsty after is less common and more literary.

Quick answer

Main uses of thirsty

Use thirsty for for drinks, success, knowledge, or attention. Thirsty after appears in literary or old-fashioned English for strong desire. Thirsty of, thirsty in, and thirsty on are generally nonstandard after the adjective thirsty.

I'm thirsty for water.
She is thirsty for success.
He seemed thirsty after power.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
thirsty for + drink

Wanting something to drink

Use thirsty for to talk about needing or wanting a drink.

After the run, they were thirsty for cold juice.
2
thirsty for + abstract noun

Strongly desiring something

Thirsty for is often used metaphorically.

The team was thirsty for victory.
3
thirsty after + noun

Literary or old-fashioned desire

Thirsty after appears mainly in literary styles.

The prince was thirsty after glory.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
thirsty for
She's thirsty for knowledge.
strongly wanting something
thirsty after
He was thirsty after fame.
literary or old-fashioned expression of desire
thirsty in
They felt thirsty in the heat.
in introduces a condition or place, not a fixed adjective pattern
thirsty of
Nonstandard: thirsty of water.
not idiomatic in current English
thirsty on
Nonstandard: thirsty on success.
not idiomatic in current English

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using of after thirsty

Modern English uses thirsty for, not thirsty of.

✕ I'm thirsty of tea. ✓ I'm thirsty for tea.

Using on to express desire

Use for with desired things.

✕ She's thirsty on attention. ✓ She's thirsty for attention.

Overusing thirsty after in everyday speech

Thirsty after sounds literary or old-fashioned in modern conversation.

✕ He's thirsty after coffee. ✓ He's thirsty for coffee.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. I'm thirsty ___ water.
2. The company is thirsty ___ growth.
3. He was thirsty ___ glory.

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Frequently asked questions

Is thirsty after correct?

Yes, but it sounds literary or old-fashioned in many contexts.

Can thirsty be used metaphorically?

Yes. People can be thirsty for success, attention, or knowledge.

Is thirsty of ever acceptable?

No. It is not standard current English.

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