yearning

/ˈjʌrnɪŋ/

/ˈjʌnɪŋ/

Other forms: yearnings

A yearning is a strong desire. If you have a yearning to travel in Africa, it means that you dream about it and intensely hope that one day you'll end up there.

A strong longing for something is a yearning for it. If you have a yearning for ice cream, it probably means that you've gone a long time without any and are almost desperate to taste some. The Old English root of the words yearn and yearning is georn, which means "eager or desirous."

Definitions of yearning

1. noun

   prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
   synonyms: hungriness, longing

   types:

   hankering, yen

   a yearning for something or to do something

   pining

   a feeling of deep longing

   wishfulness

   an unrealistic yearning

   wistfulness

   a sadly pensive longing

   nostalgia

   a longing for something past

   discontent, discontentedness, discontentment

   a longing for something better than the present situation

   lovesickness

   a pining for a loved one

   homesickness

   a longing to return home

   disgruntlement

   a feeling of sulky discontent

   dysphoria

   abnormal depression and discontent

   dissatisfaction

   the feeling of being displeased and discontent

   type of:

   desire

   the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state