yearned; yearning; yearns
1
: to long persistently, wistfully, or sadly
yearns to make a difference
2
: to feel tenderness or compassion
yearner
noun
Examples of yearn in a Sentence
yearned for a little house in the country
Recent Examples on the Web
Springsteen yearns for his father’s approval; that yearning leads to the most powerful moment in the movie, when past and present collide.
—
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
These ranged from the aristocratic elite who dominated the military and bureaucracy and yearned for a return to monarchy, to communists who sought proletarian rule, to the National Socialists who wanted to establish a right-wing dictatorship.
—Time, 23 Oct. 2025
What was once rebellion now reads as retro — authenticity repackaged for an audience yearning for the very messiness that once made those earlier actors feel so real.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Over the course of the night, the high and low of society endure the consequences of this dangerous and unknowable woman yearning for a past love in the guise of one of the guests, a brilliant author (Nina Hoss) who is up for the same academic position as George.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yearn
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.
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
These ranged from the aristocratic elite who dominated the military and bureaucracy and yearned for a return to monarchy, to communists who sought proletarian rule, to the National Socialists who wanted to establish a right-wing dictatorship.
—Time, 23 Oct. 2025
What was once rebellion now reads as retro — authenticity repackaged for an audience yearning for the very messiness that once made those earlier actors feel so real.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Over the course of the night, the high and low of society endure the consequences of this dangerous and unknowable woman yearning for a past love in the guise of one of the guests, a brilliant author (Nina Hoss) who is up for the same academic position as George.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yearn
Cite this Entry
“Yearn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yearn. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share