hanker

verb

han·​ker ˈhaŋ-kər How to pronounce hanker (audio)
hankered; hankering ˈhaŋ-k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce hanker (audio)

intransitive verb

: to have a strong or persistent desire : yearn
often used with for or after
hankerer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for hanker

long, yearn, hanker, pine, hunger, thirst mean to have a strong desire for something.

long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain.

longed for some rest

yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing.

yearned for a stage career

hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire.

always hankering for money

pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible.

pined for a lost love

hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need.

hungered for a business of his own
thirsted for power

Examples of hanker in a Sentence

By the middle of the winter, they were hankering for a warm day.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Since opening in the eclectic Kensington Market neighborhood in 2022, this buzzy spot has packed its mint green booths with crowds hankering for a spicy, family-style feast. Ingrid K. Williams, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024 In Congress, Trump and Republicans are already hankering to cut more taxes and slash the social safety net. Dylan Scott, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 Smart parents know that when there are two hungry kids hankering for the last cookie, separation of powers looks like this: One sibling makes the cut, and the other picks the first slice. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 Never hankering for the ideal or the perfect, Nikolai, in the end, achieves something essential: human possibility. Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hanker 

Word History

Etymology

probably from Dutch dialect hankeren

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hanker was in 1627

Dictionary Entries Near hanker

Cite this Entry

“Hanker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hanker. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

hanker

verb
han·​ker ˈhaŋ-kər How to pronounce hanker (audio)
hankered; hankering -k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce hanker (audio)
: to have an eager or continual desire
hanker after fame
hankerer noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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