verb / noun
yawn
YAWN/jɔːn/
To open the mouth wide and breathe deeply, usually from tiredness or boredom.
The sleepy young man yawns as he sits on his bed.
Etymology
Old English ginian meant to open the mouth wide. The meaning narrowed to the involuntary opening associated with drowsiness or boredom, rather than gaping more generally.
In context
I'm not going to open my mouth on this program except to yawn until you give me what you promised me
More examples
- I keep yawning after staying up too late.
- She covers her mouth to hide a yawn during the meeting.
- The baby yawned and closed his eyes.
Forms
yawn · yawns · yawned · yawning
Similar words
- gape
- Means opening the mouth wide, without necessarily breathing deeply.