longing

noun

long·​ing ˈlȯŋ-iŋ How to pronounce longing (audio)
: a strong desire especially for something unattainable : craving
longingly adverb

Examples of longing in a Sentence

They looked with longing toward freedom. She cast a look of longing at the shop window. She never told anyone about her secret longings.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The earworm record provokes a sense of longing, one that is uplifting, cathartic and beautiful. Lisa Kocay, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 If the famous pistol scene feels a bit anticlimactic, the end of the play distills a shattering feeling of longing for something long lost. Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025 The stately Royal Crescent and the Gravel Walk, where Anne and Wentworth finally reconcile, becomes a place associated with longing. Becca Blond, AFAR Media, 10 Feb. 2025 Photo: Shutterstock Elemental and erotic, Andrea Arnold’s reimagining of Emily Brontë’s 19th-century novel drips with longing. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for longing

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of longing was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Longing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/longing. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

longing

noun
long·​ing ˈlȯŋ-iŋ How to pronounce longing (audio)
: an eager desire : craving
longingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on longing

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