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 All three seem to get along just fine, which makes the natural yearning for an old flame to rekindle all the more tantalizing. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2024 The lyrics depict how many high schoolers feel when expected to act maturely as children, only to grow up yearning to be more carefree in adulthood. Jasmine Sessoms, The Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2024 Everything Monsters ostensibly wants to do — balancing layers of skepticism with a yearning for empathy — is captured in that one exceptional episode and, maddeningly, only in brief moments and performances elsewhere. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Sep. 2024 For those yearning for daily NASCAR content, NASCAR’s production team will churn out a 10-minute YouTube show called NASCAR Daily, with quick-hitting news and updates. Greg Engle, Forbes, 4 Sep. 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.

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 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

yearning

noun
yearn·​ing
: a tender or eager longing

More from Merriam-Webster on yearning

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!