Yearn

/jɜrn/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to have a strong and earnest desire for something.

He yearns for the days when life was simpler.

to feel a deep, often bittersweet longing.

She yearned for her childhood home after moving away.

to have an intense longing or desire for something that is difficult to attain.

Many yearn for peace and understanding in a divided world.

to express a strong desire for someone or something.

In his poetry, he often yearns for lost love.

From Old English 'georn', meaning eager or desirous.

yearn for:

To deeply desire or long for something or someone.

yearn to:

To have a strong wish to do something.

To miss someone intensely.

I totally yearn for the old days when we all hung out.

To really want something badly.

I yearn for a slice of that cake right now!