yearn

verb

ˈyərn 

yearned; yearning; yearns

intransitive verb

1

: to long persistently, wistfully, or sadly

yearns to make a difference

2

: to feel tenderness or compassion

yearner noun

yearningly

ˈyər-niŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• ache (for)
• covet
• crave
• desiderate
• desire
• die (for)
• hanker (for or after)
• hunger (for)
• itch (for)
• jones (for) [slang]
• long (for)
• lust (for or after)
• pant (after)
• pine (for)
• repine (for)
• salivate (for)
• sigh (for)
• thirst (for)
• want
• wish (for)
• yen (for)

Choose the Right Synonym for yearn

long, yearn, hanker, pine, hunger, thirst mean to have a strong desire for something.

long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain.

longed for some rest

yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing.

yearned for a stage career

hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire.

always hankering for money

pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible.

pined for a lost love

hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need.

hungered for a business of his own

thirsted for power

Examples of yearn in a Sentence

yearned for a little house in the country

Recent Examples on the Web

But the young film critic for the college’s Stanford Daily yearned to work in Hollywood. —Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 12 May 2024

For the mom who yearns for a good stretch Join Steven Arcos at Elysian Park for a strength-building Vinyasa flow. —Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024

Busch, now driving for Richard Childress Racing after winning his two titles for Joe Gibbs Racing, said fans yearn for the days of a dominant driver to follow. —Randy Covitz, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2024

The app doesn’t yet support medication reminders, and users yearn for the feature in the Google support forums. —Florence Ion / Gizmodo, Quartz, 2 May 2024

Andrew, like any child, yearned for attention and recognition. —Abc News, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2024

Patrick Collison, the Irish cofounder of Stripe, empathized with employees yearning for a return to widespread remote work. —Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 23 Apr. 2024

Beneath his initial reticence lay a wealth of stories yearning to be shared. —Hala Mustafa, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2024

Ben, a young widower and cantor at the local synagogue, finds a sense of purpose and unexpected connection when Carla, his septuagenarian elementary school music teacher who yearns to become a bat mitzvah, re-enters his life. —Jack Dunn, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English yernen, from Old English giernan; akin to Old High German gerōn to desire, Latin hortari to urge, encourage, Greek chairein to rejoice

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

yearn

verb

ˈyərn 

1

: to desire eagerly

2

: to feel tenderness or sympathy

yearner noun