yawn

verb \ ˈyȯn , ˈyän \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of yawn

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

See yawn defined for English-language learners

See yawn defined for kids

Examples of yawn in a Sentence

Students were yawning in class.

Recent Examples of yawn from the Web

All of this could narrow the yawning racial gaps in our justice system.

— yvonne abraham, BostonGlobe.com, "In courtrooms, a racial imbalance," 14 Apr. 2018
During the 2013 drilling boom, county officials along the U.S.-Mexico border raised concerns about residents having to navigate yawning potholes, cracked asphalt and splintering shoulders.

— alex samuels, star-telegram, "As Texas makes billions from oil and gas, counties say rural roads are being destroyed | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 13 Apr. 2018
That risk may go away, however, if the already yawning gap between Sanchez’s and Saladino’s performance continues to widen.

— michael beller, SI.com, "Reynaldo Lopez Highlights the Waiver Wire," 6 Apr. 2018
Closing the Achievement Gap Though the city has made real progress on increasing overall graduation rates, the academic divides between different groups of students are yawning.

— elizabeth a. harris and kate taylor, New York Times, "Welcome to New York, and Here’s a To-Do List," 2 Apr. 2018
However, if a person’s reaction to sounds like yawning and chewing is severe, the culprit might be misophonia, a disorder also known as selective sound sensitivity syndrome.

— Southern Living, "The Scientific Reason You Cannot Stand the Sound of Chewing," 27 Mar. 2018
The gulf between Democrats and Republicans on their views of the president is yawning, a chasm that has widened under the past few chief executives.

— philip bump, Washington Post, "Trump can’t figure out why the country he’s dividing won’t start uniting," 30 Jan. 2018
Angus can often be found adorned in a stylish jean vest gazing stoically into the distance or, at times, yawning.

— josie colt, WIRED, "With ‘Sniffs’ and ‘Licks,’ Petzbe Makes Social Media Nice Again," 28 Mar. 2018
CHICAGO — Day was breaking in the California desert, and Roger Federer was yawning on the tarmac.

— christopher clarey, New York Times, "A Day With Roger Federer: A Tennis Ambassador’s Work Is Never Done," 20 Mar. 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.

Origin and Etymology of yawn

Middle English yenen, yanen, from Old English ginian; akin to Old High German ginēn to yawn, Latin hiare, Greek chainein

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

yawn

noun

Definition of yawn

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 : ⁵bore

this book is kind of a yawn
—Ilene L. Cooper

See yawn defined for English-language learners

Examples of yawn in a Sentence

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 of yawn from the Web

The big round number was greeted with a yawn, and Congress wasted no time in passing more legislation that will increase our debt in the future.

— mark daly, idahostatesman, "If we let them, states might eventually solve the health care puzzle | Idaho Statesman," 28 Mar. 2018
District attorney elections in Oregon typically generate little more than a yawn, but one of them this year has gotten caught up in a swirl of backroom politics.

— noelle crombie, OregonLive.com, "National push to find reform-minded DA candidates comes to Oregon," 18 Mar. 2018
Of the networks, FOX29 will begin its live coverage the earliest, starting at a yawn-inducing 4 a.m. with Good Day Philadelphia hosts Alex Holley and Mike Jerrick anchoring the network’s coverage all day.

— rob tornoe, Philly.com, "Eagles parade: How to stream or watch the Super Bowl champs live on TV," 7 Feb. 2018
But there were audible yawns as The Young Marx plodded through its two hour run-time, my own among them.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "Karl Marx Has a Hangover," 2 Mar. 2018
They also can be greeted with a yawn if they aren't properly dressed for dinner.

— ann maloney, NOLA.com, "Creamy crawfish sauce, buttery crab turn ho-hum fish into delish," 27 Feb. 2018
One hundred and forty-five days since Great American Ball Park went dark on an October Sunday afternoon, the game yawns, stretches and begins the slow warm up to Opening Day.

— cincinnati enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "Guest TML: Four things I'm watching for this Cincinnati Reds season," 23 Feb. 2018
But Solis’ focus on making the yawn-worthy great is what made his collection compelling.

— liana satenstein, Vogue, "One Of New York’s Coolest Labels Just Showed At a Local Dry Cleaners," 12 Feb. 2018
The obvious conclusion is cynical: Cry Armageddon to prevent its release, then, after the release, resort to yawns to downplay its significance.

— victor davis hanson, National Review, "The FISA-Gate Boomerangs," 6 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of yawn

1602

yawn Synonyms

YAWN Defined for English Language Learners

yawn

verb

Definition of yawn for English Language Learners

: to open your mouth wide while taking in breath usually because you are tired or bored
of an opening, hole, etc. : to be deep, large, etc.

yawn

noun

Definition of yawn for English Language Learners

: an act of opening your mouth wide while taking in breath : an act of yawning
: something that is very boring

YAWN Defined for Kids

yawn

verb \ ˈyȯn \

Definition of yawn for Students

yawned; yawning

1 : to open the mouth wide and take a deep breath usually as an involuntary reaction to being tired or bored

2 : to open wide

A pit yawned below.

yawn

noun

Definition of yawn for Students

: an opening of the mouth while taking a deep breath usually as an involuntary reaction to being tired or bored

Medical Dictionary

yawn

intransitive verb \ ˈyȯn, ˈyän \

medical Definition of yawn

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

yawn

noun

medical Definition of yawn

: an opening of the mouth wide while taking a deep breath often as an involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom

Learn More about yawn

See words that rhyme with yawn Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for yawn Spanish Central: Translation of yawn Nglish: Translation of yawn for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of yawn for Arabic speakers

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yawn

Definition of yawn

Examples of yawn in a Sentence

Recent Examples of yawn from the Web

Origin and Etymology of yawn

yawn

Definition of yawn

Examples of yawn in a Sentence

Recent Examples of yawn from the Web

First Known Use of yawn

yawn Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

YAWN Defined for English Language Learners

yawn

Definition of yawn for English Language Learners

yawn

Definition of yawn for English Language Learners

YAWN Defined for Kids

yawn

Definition of yawn for Students

yawn

Definition of yawn for Students

Medical Dictionary

yawn

medical Definition of yawn

yawn

medical Definition of yawn

Learn More about yawn

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