Meaning & use

yearn

verb·Academic

Last updated

To have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that is unattainable or far away.

See it in a sentence

She yearned for the mountains of her childhood home.

After months at sea, the sailors yearned for solid ground.

A note on using this word

Usually followed by 'for' and often used in emotional or nostalgic contexts rather than for everyday wants.

Words with a similar meaning

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