yearning

noun

yearn·​ing ˈyər-niŋ How to pronounce yearning (audio)
: 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 Aspiring young music makers flocked to L.A. yearning to work inside the walls where their idols made sacred records, with the hope of one day doing the same. Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024 Waters’ magically whimsical pen dots their romance with just the right amount of sentiment, the yearning oozing off the page. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 The new Oxford edition, ever dutiful, treats us to the poet’s earnest envoi, its stanzas stiff with respectable yearning. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 These embryos are five years worth of money, stress, sadness, hope, yearning. As Told To Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 24 Feb. 2024 With its intriguing performances, narrative restraint and unanswered questions, the movie delivers a strong pull of yearning as well as tantalizing currents of suspicion and dread. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024 There was something that came across in the yearning and the mournful feeling that imbues a lot of Brian Wilson’s music. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2024 None of these thoughts are expressed in words, but thanks to Ben’s impeccable performance, Meena brings even these complex ideas to life through her silent despondency and her yearning for human decency. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Feb. 2024 The allure of island ownership The desire for total control, for undivided ownership, speaks to a deeper yearning for autonomy and freedom, traits deeply embedded in the American dream. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yearning.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near yearning

Cite this Entry

“Yearning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yearning. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

yearning

noun
yearn·​ing
: a tender or eager longing

More from Merriam-Webster on yearning

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!