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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.

With no desire to restore cars and a hankering to entertain, he started researching restaurants, whiskey bars and speakeasies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 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

Has there been a classic Sondheim role he’s been hankering to do?

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2023

“Well, I suppose I best be on my way. I ain’t got no hankering to interrupt any more learning!”

From "Stella by Starlight" by Sharon M. Draper

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.