longing

noun

long·​ing ˈlȯŋ-iŋ How to pronounce longing (audio)
: a strong desire especially for something unattainable : craving
longingly adverb

Examples of longing in a Sentence

They looked with longing toward freedom. She cast a look of longing at the shop window. She never told anyone about her secret longings.
Recent Examples on the Web The resulting series of escalating high jinks, which includes the use of blowfish poison, verges on the farcical, but the novel’s major chord is one of rueful longing. The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Peck, the show’s director and choreographer, creates tension and longing through a manipulation of distance and touch. Gloria Oladipo, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Love Others, Speak Less, Kiss More In the EP’s standout title track, Liu Lian beautifully captures the essence of love and longing: using our bodies to embrace, kiss and love passionately. Billboard China, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024 Mercifully, the film opted for a heartfelt rendition, with Dorothy conveying a genuine sense of longing accompanied by her faithful companion Toto. Stephen Cox, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 After a longing that lasted in our hearts, after a hope that left us disappointed. Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 But now, more and more young designers are incorporating the ethereal textile into their work, motivated by both personal nostalgia and a longing for the tactile and handmade in our increasingly virtual age. Emilia Petrarca, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 Music also has made an unsettling shift over the years, from lyrics of intense longing to hyperdrive moments of half love, a paradigm that continues to leave Usher confused. Marissa Evans, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024 Our longing to return to our homes, to reclaim our former lives, is profound. Hazem Balousha, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'longing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near longing

Cite this Entry

“Longing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/longing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

longing

noun
long·​ing ˈlȯŋ-iŋ How to pronounce longing (audio)
: an eager desire : craving
longingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on longing

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