hanker

verb

han·​ker ˈhaŋ-kər 

hankered; hankering ˈhaŋ-k(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

: to have a strong or persistent desire : yearn

—often used with for or after

hankerer

ˈhaŋ-kər-ər 

noun

Synonyms of hanker

• crave
• want
• pine (for)
• lust (for or after)
• die (for)
• hunger (for)
• pant (after)
• sigh (for)
• thirst (for)
• long (for)
• wish (for)
• repine (for)
• yen (for)
• itch (for)
• yearn (for)
• salivate (for)

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

Until very recently, Bay Area residents hankering for a Cinnaholic had to drive far south to Visalia or Los Angeles. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026

Still, the headliner of the holiday—just like its autumnal cousin Halloween—is, of course, candy, and new research shows how adults are embracing the sweet side of the spring holiday and hankering for an Easter basket of their own. —Joseph Erbentraut, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026

As the Wolverines made their way off the KeyBank Center court with their Sweet 16 ticket punched, Lendeborg grabbed a white hat and a Sharpie from one of the kids hankering for autographs near the tunnel exit. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026

Last spring, the Midwest transplant was hankering to see some wildflowers. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably from Dutch dialect hankeren

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hanker

• anchor
• anker
• banker
• canker
• rancor
• shanker
• tanker

Kids Definition

hanker

verb

han·​ker ˈhaŋ-kər 

hankered; hankering -k(ə-)riŋ 

: to have an eager or continual desire

hanker after fame

hankerer

-kər-ər 

noun