yearn

Meaning

Verb

1. (also, figuratively, intransitive) To have a strong desire for something or to do something; to long for or to do something.
2. (also, figuratively, intransitive, specifically) To have a strong desire for something or to do something; to long for or to do something.
3. (intransitive) Of music, words, etc.: to express strong desire or longing.
4. (dated, intransitive) To have strong feelings of affection, love, sympathy, etc., toward someone.
5. (intransitive, obsolete) To be distressed or pained; to grieve; to mourn.
6. (transitive) Often followed by out: to perform (music) which conveys or say (words) which express strong desire or longing.
7. (archaic, poetic, transitive) To have a strong desire or longing (for something or to do something).
8. (obsolete, transitive) To cause (someone) to have strong feelings of affection, love, sympathy, etc.; also, to grieve or pain (someone).

Noun

A strong desire or longing; a yearning, a yen.

Synonyms

long

crave

desire

long for

pine

miss

ache

hanker

aspire

wish

languish

lust

wish for

hunger

itch

want

starve

hope for

thirst for

hope

expect

admire

covet

sigh

thirst

yearn for

yen

💴

homesick

be sad

ache for

aim

envy

entice away

hanker for

thirst after

be sexually aroused

love

❤️

be enamoured with

lend off

be eagerly desirous

homesick for

restless for

adore

anticipate

aspire to

be in heat

cherish

drivel

drool

entreat

Translations

verlangen

anhelar

ποθώ

soupirer

reikhalzen

hunkeren

ansiar

λαχταρώ

languir

zuchten

añorar

sich sehnen

bramare

suspirar

aspirer

Pronounced as (IPA)

/jɜːn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: yernen

Inherited from Old English: ġeornan

Inherited from Middle English: erne

Inherited from Old English: rinnen

In summary

The verb is derived from Middle English yernen, yern (“to express or feel desire; to desire, long or wish for; to lust after; to ask or demand for”) [and other forms], from Old English ġeornan (“to desire, yearn; to beg”) [and other forms], from Proto-West Germanic *girnijan (“to be eager for, desire”), from Proto-Germanic *girnijaną (“to desire, want”), from *gernaz (“eager, willing”) (from Proto-Indo-European *gʰer- (“to yearn for”)) + *-janą (suffix forming factitive verbs from adjectives).
The noun is derived from the verb.