yearning

noun

yearn·​ing ˈyər-niŋ 

: a tender or urgent longing

a yearning for justice

Synonyms of yearning

• longing
• craving
• desire
• urge
• thirst
• hunger

Examples of yearning in a Sentence

had a sudden yearning for something sweet

Recent Examples on the Web

The narrator, purged of identifiers except for her yearning, her rational faculties, and her sense of unbelonging, is counterintuitively relatable—a portrait of rudimentary, universal humanity. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

The continued fascination with Monroe reflects a broader yearning for the glamour and larger-than-life movie stars of cinema's Golden Age. — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Nolan foregrounds the nobility that guides the character (his guilt, his dedication to his men, his yearning for his family) and neglects his wily cunning and egotism. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 July 2026

For the uninitiated, Cohan isn’t at all off base to suggest that fans drop their yearning for this particular pair of characters. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for yearning

• adjourning
• concerning
• discerning
• returning
• burning
• churning
• earning
• learning
• spurning
• turning
• overturning

Kids Definition

yearning

noun

yearn·​ing

: a tender or eager longing