: a tender or urgent longing
a yearning for justice
Synonyms
Examples of yearning in a Sentence
had a sudden yearning for something sweet
Recent Examples on the Web
The chilled mountain oasis, usually so close at hand, would elude a population yearning for fresh air.
—
Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024
Lee, the longtime muse of Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang, carries Cheung’s yearning and joy, his guilt and sorrow, in a performance that’s all the more gripping for being measured and contained.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for yearning 
Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 20 May 2024
Lee, the longtime muse of Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang, carries Cheung’s yearning and joy, his guilt and sorrow, in a performance that’s all the more gripping for being measured and contained.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for yearning
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yearning.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Yearning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yearning. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
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