yearning

noun

yearn·​ing ˈyər-niŋ How to pronounce yearning (audio)
Synonyms of yearningnext
: 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
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.
As with every project associated with Sally Rooney, whose 2018 novel the show is based on, Normal People is a moody tapestry of yearning and feelings left maddeningly unsaid. Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026 Analog is back In a Substack post in September that got 5,000 likes, Salguero expressed a yearning to have lived life in the ’90s when dating apps and doom scrolling weren’t a prerequisite of young adulthood. Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026 Lighton favors music for setting the tone and locating the story within the emotional tenor of mid-century yearning classics. Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2026 Below, Brownell unpacks Part 1, including elements of the classic Cinderella story, ongoing yearning between Benedict and Sophie, their time together in the countryside and that steamy scene at the end of episode four. Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for yearning

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Yearning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yearning. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

yearning

noun
yearn·​ing
: a tender or eager longing

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