How is the word pine distinct from other similar verbs?
Some common synonyms of pine are hanker, hunger, long, thirst, and yearn. While all these words mean "to have a strong desire for something," pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible.
pined for a lost love
In what contexts can hanker take the place of pine?
While in some cases nearly identical to pine, hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire.
always hankering for money
How do hunger and thirst relate to one another, in the sense of pine?
Both hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need.
hungered for a business of his own
thirsted for power
When can long be used instead of pine?
In some situations, the words long and pine are roughly equivalent. However, long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain.
longed for some rest
Where would yearn be a reasonable alternative to pine?
The synonyms yearn and pine are sometimes interchangeable, but yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing.
yearned for a stage career
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 pineThankfully, for Land Rover fans pining to see its vehicles scaling rocks and cresting sand dunes in full race mode, their patience has been rewarded.—Karl Brauer, Robb Report, 19 Jan. 2026 Some other unconventional methods include steaming the fabric to soften the threads and then stretch, as well as wetting the garment and then pining it down at the correct size, like how crocheters stretch out granny squares.—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026 His father's signature martial arts style, called Songahm Taekwondo, has deep Arkansas roots, and the name Songahm, which translates to 'pine tree rock,' has parallels to the natural beauty of Arkansas his father valued, Lee said.—Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 3 Dec. 2025 The Castlery Black Friday sale is a prime opportunity to pine over the retailer’s classic silhouettes and neutral color palettes at slightly more wallet-friendly prices.—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pine
But God was love, and his victory over the hearts of those who longed for him was already prepared in advance.
—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Mar. 2026
That’s perfectly satisfying for the lizard brain, but the attentive listener may long for the occasional act two to lift Evaporator out of its honeyed electronic stupor and toss a touch of sand in the gears.