Definition of longing
: a strong desire especially for something unattainable : craving
- Trending Now: More Trending:
- asylum insubordinate promulgate epochal clemency
- ALL
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
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 of longing from the Web
-
In this poem, probably addressed to an ex-lover, the speaker compares her family to a pack of cigarettes as a roundabout way of describing her persistent longing.
-
But there is a sense of longing in that pleasant childhood memory, a hope for something more than just a cake.
-
Nash is her show’s greatest asset, a compelling performer who projects dignity, charm and longing.
-
Listen in to the whisper of your own longings, Virgo.
-
This week’s song tells of not actually being on a train, but longing to be on one, drinking coffee.
-
He is played with nerdy conviction by Bob Murrell, who captures his shy longing for Audrey, the dopey but endearing blonde with bad taste in men.
-
Lee played countless songs of commemoration and longing for the place and testified, rallied, petitioned, and inspired.
-
Many mentioned longing to return and visit the villages where they were born and raised.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'longing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of longing
before 12th century
longing Synonyms
Synonyms
appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, passion, pining, thirst, thirstiness, urge, yearning, yen;
Near Antonyms
abhorrence, abomination, allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, distaste, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion;
Related Words
compulsion, impulse, impulsion, will, zeal;
liking, love, taste, weakness;
acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, covetousness, cupidity, greed, greediness, rapaciousness, rapacity;
LONGING Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of longing for English Language Learners
-
: a strong desire for something or someone
LONGING Defined for Kids
Definition of longing for Students
: a very strong desire
—
longingly
adverbLearn More about longing
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for longing Spanish Central: Translation of longing Nglish: Translation of longing for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of longing for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up longing? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
