yawn

American  

[yawn] / yɔn /

verb (used without object)

1. to open the mouth somewhat involuntarily with a prolonged, deep inhalation and sighing or heavy exhalation, as from drowsiness or boredom.

   Synonyms:

   gape

2. to open wide like a mouth.

   Synonyms:

   gape

3. to extend or stretch wide, as an open and deep space.

   Synonyms:

   gape

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verb (used with object)

1. to say with a yawn.

2. Archaic.  to open wide, or lay open, as if by yawning.

noun

1. an act or instance of yawning.

2. an opening; open space; chasm.

3. Informal.  Also something so boring as to make one yawn.

   Critics say the new fashions are one big yawn.

yawn British  

/ jɔːn /

verb

1. (intr) to open the mouth wide and take in air deeply, often as in involuntary reaction to tiredness, sleepiness, or boredom

2. (tr) to express or utter while yawning

3. (intr) to be open wide as if threatening to engulf (someone or something)

   the mine shaft yawned below

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noun

1. the act or an instance of yawning

Other Word Forms

• yawner noun
• yawning adjective
• yawningly adverb

Etymology

Origin of yawn

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb yanen, yonen, alteration of yenen, Old English ge(o)nian; akin to Old English gānian, ginan, Old Norse gīna, German gähnen, Latin hiāre “to be wide open, gape,” Greek chaínein “to gape”; hiatus, dehisce ( def. ), chasm

Example Sentences

In the sea of vendor pop-ups, Mac Miller’s yawning face, the cover of his 2015 release “GO:OD AM,” stood tall.

From Los Angeles Times

The stock market has hit a speed bump, not a yawning vortex of doom, as investors question the valuations of top tech and artificial intelligence stocks.

From Barron's

The party, after all, has a yawning generation gap that has stymied younger politicians from attaining power, ascending to leadership and freshening Democrats’ image and agenda.

From Salon

But unlike the first unveiling of those targets a year ago, and Oracle’s quarterly report last month that included even more blowout numbers, investors yawned.

From The Wall Street Journal

The government is scrambling to implement spending cuts and push through measures to narrow this yawning budget deficit to under 5% of gross domestic product.

From The Wall Street Journal