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Synonyms

hankering

American  
[hang-ker-ing] / ˈhæŋ kər ɪŋ /

noun

  1. a longing; craving.

    Synonyms:
    thirst, yen, hunger, yearning, need, desire

Other Word Forms

  • hankeringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of hankering

First recorded in 1655–65; hanker + -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And distributors, dizzy from years of surprises and disruption, are hankering for a universally appealing, tried-and-true marketing campaign, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

The trend toward extravagance dovetailed nicely with the emergence of baby boomers and older Gen X–ers with more disposable income, the hankering for less-traveled international locales and a generational shift toward more creature comforts.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 28, 2025

Studies also indicate that for some people, cravings for highly palatable foods go well beyond just a normal hankering for a snack and are, in fact, signs of addictive behavior.

From Salon • Oct. 13, 2025

It's not clear any party is hankering after an early test of public opinion.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2025

“I was sort of hankering for new stuff.”

From "Ruby Holler" by Sharon Creech

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.