English Dictionary

Definition of “yearning”

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yearning (ˈjɜːnɪŋPronunciation for yearning) 

Definitions

noun

  1. an intense or overpowering longing, desire, or need; craving

Alternative Forms

ˈyearningly adverb

yearn (jɜːnPronunciation for yearn) 

Definitions

verb (intr)

  1.  usually foll by for or after or an infinitive to have an intense desire or longing (for); pine (for)
  2. to feel tenderness or affection

Alternative Forms

ˈyearner noun

Word Origin

Old English giernan;  related to Old Saxon girnian,  Old Norse girna,  Gothic gairnjan,  Old High German gerōn  to long for, Sanskrit haryati he likes

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= long, desire, pine, pant, hunger, ache, lust, crave, covet, itch, languish, hanker after have a yen for eat your heart out over set your heart upon suspire, would give your eyeteeth for

Usage examples

  • Nothing except this yearning , now familiar, for the gentle girl who had been his closest companion.
    Telushkin, Josef, The Unorthodox Murder of Rabbi Moss (1986)
  • On another, images of Wilbur, Orville and their plane, and above, a human figure stretching yearning arms towards the sky.
    Spiked (2003)
  • No, it is not true that women abuse their children out of a sense of yearning for the rejected remains of a former pregnancy.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • It has just launched a new youth scheme for anyone aged 16-25 with a yearning for high sea adventure.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • The impressions conveyed by those of Arthur is quite different: it is one of yearning nostalgia.
    Rutherford, Ward, Celtic Mythology (1987)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'Y'

Related Terms

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