yearning

noun

yearn·​ing ˈyər-niŋ How to pronounce yearning (audio)
: 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.
There is a specific kind of yearning involved in having a crush, one that feels intense, yet is for the most part harmless fun; still, as people grow older the frequency of such infatuations often decreases. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025 The breathless discussion about that photograph felt almost like a yearning for the past, when consensus could be built through celluloid. Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025 For roughly the first half, the songs are held together by a sort of yearning — for a person, for the open road, or for the idea of freedom. Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025 D’Angelo rebuffed our yearning for a traditional career long enough to eke out a delightfully unpredictable final decade. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 15 Oct. 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 22 Oct. 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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