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.
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 The minutiae of his substitution pattern at the beginning of a game wouldn’t bruise his ego, his insatiable yearning to shoot the basketball that Denver desperately needed. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026 Across genres, his roles share a kind of idealistic yearning to be seen and to be known that Gosling conveys with those soft eyes and a tired half-smile. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026 For the three people left in the world who remain uninitiated, breakout stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie play Shane Hudson and Ilya Rozanov, two rival hockey captains who fall in love over the course of a decade of yearning and clandestine hookups. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2026 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 3 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

yearning

noun
yearn·​ing
: a tender or eager longing

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