yearning

noun

yearn·​ing ˈyər-niŋ How to pronounce yearning (audio)
Synonyms of yearningnext
: 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
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.
Heated Rivalry is the internet’s latest obsession with its steamy scenes and yearning plotline. Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 12 Dec. 2025 This yearning is contrasted with the body’s betrayals, such as a blush that makes one’s internal shame visible. Robert Lang, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2025 Her assessment of Soviet and later Russian leadership is clear-eyed, seeing the yearning of the Russian people for a hard-nosed protector, like the former tsars, in Russia’s support for Putin. The Know, Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2025 From the singing to the silence that comes when Lucija’s lost in thought and desire, Djukić expertly crafts a tangible atmosphere of yearning that aches with youthful restlessness. David Opie, IndieWire, 4 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for yearning

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yearning was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Yearning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yearning. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

yearning

noun
yearn·​ing
: a tender or eager longing

More from Merriam-Webster on yearning

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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