yearn

verb

ˈyərn How to pronounce yearn (audio)
yearned; yearning; yearns
Synonyms of yearn

intransitive verb

1
: to long persistently, wistfully, or sadly
yearns to make a difference
2
: to feel tenderness or compassion
yearner noun
yearningly
ˈyər-niŋ-lē How to pronounce yearn (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of yearn

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long, yearn, hanker, pine, hunger, thirst mean to have a strong desire for something.

long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain.

longed for some rest

yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing.

yearned for a stage career

hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire.

always hankering for money

pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible.

pined for a lost love

hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need.

hungered for a business of his own
thirsted for power

Examples of yearn in a Sentence

yearned for a little house in the country
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.
My work hours, most notably, but also that little nagging voice in my head that yearns—no, demands—perfection. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 July 2026 Post-pandemic, that yearning for socialization has helped push game nights from a niche hobby to a default plan. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026 People of our generation are yearning for some kind of connection to the natural world. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 June 2026 That is typical of today’s humanoids, which seem to yearn for autonomy without quite achieving it. — Stephen Witt, New Yorker, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for yearn

Word History

Etymology

Middle English yernen, from Old English giernan; akin to Old High German gerōn to desire, Latin hortari to urge, encourage, Greek chairein to rejoice

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of yearn was before the 12th century

Rhymes for yearn

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Browse Nearby Words

Yearly Meeting
yearn
yearner
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Cite this Entry

“Yearn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yearn. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

yearn

verb
ˈyərn How to pronounce yearn (audio)
1
: to desire eagerly
2
: to feel tenderness or sympathy
yearner noun

More from Merriam-Webster on yearn

Nglish: Translation of yearn for Spanish Speakers

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