: 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
Morris felt a sense of belonging in the city that did not belong, and on the wharf that morning laid the foundations of a whole career exploring nostalgia and its yearnings.
—
Sara Wheeler, Big Think, 17 Apr. 2026
The film is a quiet yearning romance alongside an interrogation of Nazi appeasement, class, and duty.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
In them, key social issues and important historical moments come alive by way of her characters’ wounds, yearnings, and dreams.
—Imani Perry, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
An old soul with with a huge, commanding voice, his catalog hovers between the orchestral swoon of pre-rock ballads, the pristine melodies of Anita Baker and the rangy, resilient yearning of his hometown’s soul tradition.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 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.
Sara Wheeler, Big Think, 17 Apr. 2026
The film is a quiet yearning romance alongside an interrogation of Nazi appeasement, class, and duty.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
In them, key social issues and important historical moments come alive by way of her characters’ wounds, yearnings, and dreams.
—Imani Perry, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
An old soul with with a huge, commanding voice, his catalog hovers between the orchestral swoon of pre-rock ballads, the pristine melodies of Anita Baker and the rangy, resilient yearning of his hometown’s soul tradition.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 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 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
