: a tender or urgent longing
a yearning for justice
Examples of yearning in a Sentence
had a sudden yearning for something sweet
Recent Examples on the Web
It is supposed to be the first ship in a flotilla that will carry economic development, national self-interests, and the yearning for scientific discovery to the moon.
—
Rebecca Boyle, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Platt’s and Zegler’s voices flawlessly alternated from song to song, reaching the rafters with heartbreak and humor, yearning and love.
—Julia Edelstein, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
On the group’s fourth album in six years, there are songs about doomscrolling, drinking, drugs, and self-loathing—alongside themes of breakups, addiction, and the yearning for a different future.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
The mantra presents the image of a ripe cucumber becoming untethered from its vine, evoking a deep desire for liberation from the physical world—a strong yearning for an unbounded, eternal, and therefore immortal condition.
—Andrés Muedano, JSTOR Daily, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for yearning
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rebecca Boyle, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Platt’s and Zegler’s voices flawlessly alternated from song to song, reaching the rafters with heartbreak and humor, yearning and love.
—Julia Edelstein, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
On the group’s fourth album in six years, there are songs about doomscrolling, drinking, drugs, and self-loathing—alongside themes of breakups, addiction, and the yearning for a different future.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
The mantra presents the image of a ripe cucumber becoming untethered from its vine, evoking a deep desire for liberation from the physical world—a strong yearning for an unbounded, eternal, and therefore immortal condition.
—Andrés Muedano, JSTOR Daily, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for yearning
Cite this Entry
“Yearning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yearning. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
