yawn

verb

\ˈyȯn,

ˈyän\

yawned; yawning; yawns

Definition of yawn

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to open wide : gape

2 : to open the mouth wide and take a deep breath usually as an involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom

transitive verb

1 : to utter with a yawn

2 : to accomplish with or impel by yawns his grandchildren yawned him to bed— L. L. King

yawn

noun

Definition of yawn (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : gap, cavity

2 : an opening of the mouth wide while taking a deep breath often as an involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom also : a reaction resembling a yawn a … success at the box office but drew only yawns from critics — Current Biography

3 : bore entry 5 this book is kind of a yawn— Ilene L. Cooper

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about yawn

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Examples of yawn in a Sentence

Verb

Students were yawning in class.

Noun

I tried to stifle a yawn. as neither candidate was willing to make an unequivocal statement about anything, the debate proved to be a complete yawn

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Not long after Clinton unpacked his things in Chappaqua, his successor was presiding over a sputtering economy, increased poverty, and yawning deficits. — Neil Swidey, BostonGlobe.com, "How Democrats would be better off if Bill Clinton had never been president," 10 July 2018 The strings are almost troublingly raw, perched on the edge of hysteria, over a yawning gulf to the deep base of the orchestra. — Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, "Review: A Conductor Sets Munich’s Ashen ‘Parsifal’ Aflame," 1 July 2018 In the gap between the floor of the garage and slowly-yawning door, a pair of hiking boots appeared. — The Washington Post, NOLA.com, "Georgia cop fired after he ran over fleeing suspect with his car," 3 June 2018 Three years of low oil prices have produced yawning budget deficits, hurting the government’s ability to provide the public sector jobs and benefits — including cheap gas and electricity — to which its citizens have grown accustomed. — Alexandra Zavis, latimes.com, "Oil-rich Saudi Arabia is turning to another resource to power the kingdom — sunshine," 31 May 2018 Jordan is embarking on a three-year program of painful economic measures ordered up by the International Monetary Fund to help the kingdom cut its yawning public debt. — Loveday Morris, BostonGlobe.com, "Jordan has weathered its worst protests since Arab Spring, but the storm isn’t over," 9 June 2018 Little babies are yawning all around the circle, held on laps and centered against chests. — Karen Russell, The New Yorker, "Orange World," 4 June 2017 But Monday's hearing only exposed the yawning political divide that not even a 16-chapter report, prepared over the past 18 months, could reconcile. — Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY, "Senate judiciary panel grills Justice inspector general, FBI director on Clinton email probe," 18 June 2018 Eventually, the shadows of the trees yawned and stretched and wrapped around us, and a cool breeze blew through the park. — Madeleine Aggeler, The Cut, "Grilling Is a Fine Way to Make Enemies," 8 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The ratings for the show have been consistently low, and until now most of the responses involved yawns or Jon Stewart falling asleep. — Charlotte Hilton Andersen, Redbook, "Explaining the "All-American Muslim" Controversy to Our Kids," 15 Dec. 2011 For decades, the O in O Street downtown might as well have symbolized a big yawn. — Tony Bizjak, sacbee, "This may be downtown Sacramento's most boring corridor. Would a facelift change that?," 27 June 2018 But the media, of course, didn't report, barely yawn. — Fox News, "Questions remain after Wray and Horowitz testify," 19 June 2018 The Enquirer/Bobby Nightengale (Photo: Sam Greene) Oh, yawn. — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Morning Line: Enjoy the fun being produced by the Cincinnati Reds lineup," 3 July 2018 My forays into the abyss of retail seemed to happen without my noticing, like the onset of a yawn. — Hayley Phelan, WSJ, "Lessons From a Six-Month Shopping Detox," 26 June 2018 As soon as that yawn is over, then my voice is back to a struggle. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN, "The radio man without a voice," 15 June 2018 Make sure to pack a piece of chewing gum before you board, or yawn to relieve ear pressure. — Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "What can I bring in a carry-on bag? And other travel tips from Delta and TSA," 15 June 2018 This is the jaw-dropping moment that a sleepy fisherman has a stretch and a yawn — oblivious to the giant whale shark swimming next to his canoe. — Yasmin Harisha, Fox News, "Photographer captures whale shark swimming beneath sleepy fisherman," 20 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'yawn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.