yearning
Say it: YUR-ning /ˈjɝnɪŋ/ · noun
What “yearning” means
A deep longing that stays with you.
More precisely: A deep, persistent longing for something.
Example: “Living abroad gave her a yearning for her grandmother's cooking.”
When to use it
For a strong, lasting wish for someone, somewhere or something absent. More emotional and slightly literary than simply wanting.
Similar words
longing, craving, desire
Where it comes from
From Old English giernan, "to desire."
Quick check
Years after leaving your seaside hometown, you still ache to walk its beaches again. What is that feeling?
nostalgia or yearning?
Show the answer
yearning
Learn 5 new words a day in Kinquire. Each with a picture, how to say it, an example and a quick check, then spaced review so you actually keep them. Free to start.
Learn “yearning”