definitions

hankering

[ hang-ker-ing ]
/ ˈhæŋ kər ɪŋ /
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noun

a longing; craving.

RELATED WORDS

yearning, craving, pining, longing, urge, itch, hunger, wish, yen, thirst, want, weakness, ache, druthers, munchies

Nearby words

hania, hanifah, haniwa, hank, hanker, hankering, hankeringly, hankou, hankow, hanks, hanky

Origin of hankering

First recorded in 1655–65; hanker + -ing1

Related forms

han·ker·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for hankering (2 of 2)

hanker

[ hang-ker ]
/ ˈhæŋ kər /

verb (used without object)

to have a restless or incessant longing (often followed by after, for, or an infinitive).

Origin of hanker

1595–1605; < early Dutch dialect hankeren (cognate with Dutch hunkeren), frequentative of hangen to hang

Related forms

han·ker·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hankering

British Dictionary definitions for hankering

hanker

/ (ˈhæŋkə) /

verb

(foll by for, after, or an infinitive) to have a yearning (for something or to do something)

Derived Forms

hankering, noun

Word Origin for hanker

C17: probably from Dutch dialect hankeren
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012