yearning
Americannoun
-
deep longing, especially when accompanied by tenderness or sadness.
a widower's yearning for his wife.
-
an instance of such longing.
noun
Related Words
See desire.
Other Word Forms
- unyearning adjective
- yearningly adverb
Etymology
Origin of yearning
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English gierninge; equivalent to yearn + -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.
On the surface, it is a love story between Hal and Madge, but underneath it’s a meditation on class, yearning, broken dreams, and the nearly insurmountable obstacles to leading a life of meaning and purpose.
It’s a stunning moment, and one of the show’s most memorable scenes, because it earnestly captures the silent yearning that comprises so much of the gay experience, especially for closeted gay men.
From Salon
When he opened up to Louise, he realised he'd missed "what she was yearning" -holding her hand and listening to her.
From BBC
They are yearning for a chance to contribute their talents in their new home.
But the demoralization really comes when you pause for a beat and realize that, behind every single #RaptureTok video, there’s an unspoken yearning for relief.
From Salon
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.
