hanker
verb (used without object)
to have a restless or incessant longing (often followed by after, for, or an infinitive).
had been hankering
-
past perfect progressiveof hanker.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
On the tape, Miller boasts about Trump’s personal life, claiming that celebrities like Madonna, Kim Basinger and former French first lady Carla Bruni all had been hankering to date him.
From MSNBC ● May 20, 2016
The National Park Service had been hankering for a place to tell tourists about the delights of the capital.
From Time Magazine Archive
Dolce, who comes from a family of well-established tailors, had been hankering for a job in Armani's design studio.
From Time Magazine Archive
Ever since the Easter holidays at Tunbury, and her apprenticeship to Art in Mr. Stockton's studio, Lesbia had been hankering for an oil paint-box.
From Loyal to the School by Angela Brazil
She kept leaving off, making her work last as long as she could, so as to remain there, to listen to that story, which her curiosity had been hankering to know for a fortnight past.
From L'Assommoir by Émile Zola
