yearning

noun

yearn·​ing ˈyər-niŋ How to pronounce yearning (audio)
: a tender or urgent longing
a yearning for justice

Examples of yearning in a Sentence

had a sudden yearning for something sweet
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.
The findings suggest a blend of practical considerations and a yearning for change among residents of blue-voting states. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024 Instead, the First Quarter Moon inspires feelings of generosity and yearning. Jennifer Culp, Them, 1 Nov. 2024 Growing up in New York City, Messina recalls seeing commercials on television for haunted houses on the Jersey Shore and yearning but unable to go. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 31 Oct. 2024 Despite McKenzie’s appealing, honestly felt efforts, Purdy herself feels as much a proxy for the anguish and yearning of her patients as a character in her own right. Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for yearning 

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yearning was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near yearning

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

yearning

noun
yearn·​ing
: a tender or eager longing

More from Merriam-Webster on yearning

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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