longing

American  

[lawng-ing, long-] / ˈlɔŋ ɪŋ, ˈlɒŋ- /

noun

1. strong, persistent desire or craving, especially for something unattainable or distant.

   filled with longing for home.

   Synonyms:

   aspiration

   Antonyms:

   apathy

2. an instance of this.

   a sudden longing to see old friends.

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adjective

1. having or characterized by persistent or earnest desire.

   a longing look.

   Synonyms:

   yearning, desirous

longing British  

/ ˈlɒŋɪŋ /

noun

1. a prolonged unfulfilled desire or need

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adjective

1. having or showing desire or need

   a longing look

Related Words

See desire.

Other Word Forms

• longingly adverb
• longingness noun

Etymology

Origin of longing

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English langung; equivalent to long ² + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Deeply felt longing is its own kind of sizzle.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her longing reflects the anxiety felt by many of Bangladesh's 13.1  million Hindus, the country's largest religious minority, after at least 70 people were killed in unrest following a student-led uprising.

From Barron's

A powerful longing came over me to walk out of that room, go outside, and let that voice lead me home.

From Literature

I’ve reread it twice since then, once in my 20s and once when I was plotting longing in my novel, “Milk Fed.”

From Los Angeles Times

Patriots prodigy Drake Maye was left longing for a do-over after his first Super Bowl appearance ended in misery on Sunday.

From Barron's

Related Words

• ambition
• aspiration
• craving
• hankering
• hunger
• pining
• thirst
• wish
• yearning