yearn

play

verb \ˈyərn\

Definition of yearn

intransitive verb
1 : to long persistently, wistfully, or sadly yearns to make a difference
2 : to feel tenderness or compassion

yearner

noun

yearningly

play \ˈyər-niŋ-lē\ adverb

See yearn defined for English-language learners

See yearn defined for kids

Recent Examples of yearn from the Web

This makes fans yearn for fun — and, even more importantly, functioning — accessories.

— ryan parker, The Hollywood Reporter, "Spider-Man's Web-Shooter Toys Have Remained Consistently Cool for Decades", 30 June 2017
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

— kitty conley, Post-Tribune, "Scratching Post", 26 June 2017
While there is little research on the desire for fatherhood, a 2013 study in Britain found that men and women had similar levels of yearning for children.

— lisa bonos, chicagotribune.com, "Tick tock: Men have biological clocks too", 16 June 2017
The audience, however, yearned for something more: the satisfaction of Trump’s defeat.

— andrew rice, Daily Intelligencer, "Is Trump Inc. the President’s Greatest Vulnerability?", 12 June 2017
And San Diego’s own Hafso-Koppman, a new graduate of the Old Globe/University of San Diego’s Shiley MFA acting program, has an absolute star turn as Cléante, who yearns to marry Angélique despite her father’s opposition.

— james hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Old Globe's 'Imaginary Invalid' a savvy revisiting of classic", 2 June 2017
The loyalty and affection toward Chris Hansen from those yearning for a new arena and the return of the Sonics is understandable.

— larry stone, The Seattle Times, "It’s time for Chris Hansen and Sodo arena supporters to face reality", 1 June 2017
To those who have been waiting for this picture their entire lives, who have yearned to see ‘

— david frese, kansascity, "Early reviews of ‘Wonder Woman’ are mostly wonderful", 30 May 2017
Nixon was an actor and a musician, a romantic whose tough childhood and distant mother left him yearning for approval.

— sarah hutto, The New Yorker, "Briefly Noted", 29 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of yearn

Middle English yernen, from Old English giernan; akin to Old High German gerōn to desire, Latin hortari to urge, encourage, Greek chairein to rejoice

NEW!

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of yearn

long, yearn, hanker, pine, hunger, thirst mean to have a strong desire for something. long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain. longed for some rest yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing. yearned for a stage career hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire. always hankering for money pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible. pined for a lost love hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need. hungered for a business of his own thirsted for power