longing

1 of 2

noun

long·​ing ˈlȯŋ-iŋ 

: a strong desire especially for something unattainable : craving

longingly

ˈlȯŋ-iŋ-lē 

adverb

longing

2 of 2

present participle of long entry 4, long entry 5

Synonyms of longing

Noun

• desire
• craving
• thirst
• urge
• hunger
• yearning

Examples of longing in a Sentence

Noun

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

Noun

This paradox—a longing for beauty to be distributed equally, even though it cannot be diluted for ease of distribution, and might even require rarity—is why the period continues to fascinate me. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Personal longings and professional obligations may be at odds today. — Usa Today, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Like with Channel Orange, Ocean is narrating life from 10,000 feet up, able to communicate pain and lust and longing with a kind of precision that, if nothing else, should prove how singular the human spirit truly is. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

Anemoia is essentially an imagined memory, a longing built from movies, photographs, and secondhand stories rather than lived experience. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for longing

• thronging
• belonging
• prolonging

Kids Definition

longing

noun

long·​ing ˈlȯŋ-iŋ 

: an eager desire : craving

longingly

-iŋ-lē 

adverb