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: a tender or urgent longing
a yearning for justice
Synonyms
Examples of yearning in a Sentence
had a sudden yearning for something sweet
Recent Examples on the Web
And since a love story requires a tactile anchor for its yearning, Gomes — in stark contrast to Marker — cast a pair of conventionally attractive actors to embody the characters described over the soundtrack.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Jan. 2025
In this one crystallizing moment, the woman’s yearning, desire that has been discreetly waiting in the background, rushes into view.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
The album’s rollout so far has maintained elements of nostalgia, or yearning for the past.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 26 Dec. 2024
In another sign of Syrians’ yearning for normalcy after the whirlwind of events, schools in Damascus reopened Sunday for the first time since the insurgents marched in the capital.
—Abby Sewell, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
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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 20 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
yearning
noun
yearn·ing
: a tender or eager longing
More from Merriam-Webster on yearning
Nglish: Translation of yearning for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of yearning for Arabic Speakers
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