longing 1 of 3

noun

ˈlȯŋ-iŋ How to pronounce longing (audio)
Definition of longingnext
as in desire
a strong wish for something by four o'clock in the afternoon, I usually experience a strong longing for chocolate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

longing

2 of 3

adjective

as in pining

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

longing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of long
as in yearning

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of longing
Noun
Faydra explores the impossibility of reconciling logic and longing — especially for a woman unwilling to deny desire. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026 Humans have speculated about eternal life since ancient times, Gershwin said, and the longing is close to universal. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Werther, in his self-delusion, embodies another Goethean type, the longing man—ordinary, but convinced of the extraordinariness of his feelings. — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for longing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for longing
  1. desire
  2. covetous
  3. craving
  4. ambitious
  5. thirst
  6. restless
  7. urge
  8. obsessed
Noun
  • Having a comfy and accommodating chair can reduce the desire to get up give you more time to get more work done.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Trump’s desire, which is to coat the granite facade with white paint, has been met with significant pushback from historians who say that covering the historic building’s granite exterior with paint could trap moisture and damage the stone.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of desire
Adjective
  • Starring Elordi and Barry Keoghan, Fennell’s dark comedy about class resentment and covetous destruction was sold on the promise of erotic excess.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026
  • For most players, that amount of storage is realistically enough for all but the most covetous data hoarders.
    — Matt Kamen, Wired News, 3 Aug. 2025
Definition of covetous
Noun
  • But despite the evident craving for stories about L-O-V-E, literary fiction has struggled to master the art of the crossover.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026
  • For kiddos and adults, fruit serves as a healthy alternative to candy, delivering vitamins, fiber, and hydration while satisfying sweet cravings.
    — Sierra Leone Starks, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of craving
Adjective
  • Even still, the allure of success kept the industry flush with young, ambitious actors, directors and creatives.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The Light Flip is an ambitious device, addressing the issues with vintage flip phones while adopting modern technology without abandoning the minimal tech counterculture movement.
    — Anthony Karcz, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of ambitious
Noun
  • What the estate has built in the 15 years since his death is a testament to the thirst for life that the artist had while on this earth.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026
  • After marking his 61st birthday with a vintage video from his 3rd birthday back in 1966, Stamos returned to thirst-trapping for his 62nd.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of thirst
Adjective
  • Their snooping about doesn’t entirely sit well with the restless community that has some suspicious characters in it.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • John Heminger, a photographer with a long face and restless energy, asked me.
    — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of restless
Noun
  • Travelers should also resist the urge to glance at the approval email and forget about it.
    — Bailey Berg, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Walking will also help regulate appetite and curb the urge to grab those unhealthy snacks between meals.
    — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of urge
Adjective
  • The victim’s mother, 60-year-old Adra Pegues, said the killer recently went on a first date with her daughter and then became obsessed with Davis, who wasn’t interested in a second date.
    — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • But while ripoffs and dodgy reboots are common in horror, some of the weirdest unauthorized sequels are the result of an obsessed fan self-financing a tribute to their favorite movie.
    — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of obsessed

Browse Nearby Words

long hauls
longing
longing (for)
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Cite this Entry

“Longing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/longing. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of longing for Spanish Speakers

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