yearn
verb (used without object)
to have an earnest or strong desire; long.
has yearned
-
present perfectof yearn (3rd person singular).present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
"My suitcase is packed in my head," she said, explaining that she has yearned to reconnect with everything that she misses about Iran: "the atmosphere, the streets, the neighbours, friends, everything".
From Barron's ● Mar. 13, 2026
No one has yearned to call himself a victim of "cancel culture" more than Elon Musk.
From Salon ● Mar. 20, 2025
In Season 3, that would be Colin, the family’s third son, who finally comes to terms with his feelings for Penelope, a longtime friend who has yearned for him for years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2024
Villeneuve has yearned to tell this story since he was a teenager in Quebec.
From New York Times ● Apr. 17, 2024
Yelena remembers one of her earliest teachers talking about space, and ever since then Yelena has yearned to be closer to the stars.
From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson
