verb

yearn

YURN/jɜːrn/

Feel a deep longing for something.

The man yearns for closeness with the woman beyond the closed train window.

A man and woman separated by a closed train window lean toward one another, their palms aligned on opposite sides of the glass.

Etymology

yearnOld Englishstrive, be eager, desire

Old English giernan covered eager striving and seeking as well as desire. Yearn carries that eagerness into the feeling of strong longing, already expressed by its Middle English ancestor.

In context

TED11:39

"And," she adds, "I love that I get to contribute to my community." All of us yearn to be seen, to count.

What it takes to make change | Jacqueline Novogratz

More examples

He yearns to see his children again.
They yearned for a quieter life away from the city.
I find myself yearning for the freedom of summer.

Forms

yearn · yearns · yearned · yearning

yearning noun — A deep, persistent longing for something.

Similar words

long: Long is nearly interchangeable, expressing deep desire without added urgency.
crave: Crave often suggests an urgent desire for immediate satisfaction.
pine: Pine emphasizes sadness or suffering caused by unfulfilled longing.