All Words
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Word of the Day

yearn

verb

To have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that one has lost or been separated from.

Common - Frequently used in everyday language

Etymology

From Old English giernan "to desire, strive, beg," from Proto-Germanic *gernjan, related to German gern "gladly."

Examples in Use

  • 1.

    "She yearned for the simplicity of her childhood."

  • 2.

    "Immigrants often yearn for their homeland."

  • 3.

    "He yearned to return to the sea."

Related Vocabulary

Synonyms

longpineachehankercrave

Related Words

desirewishhungerthirst

Fun Fact

Yearn is related to German gern (gladly) and English "eager." The Proto-Indo-European root *gher- meant "to desire, like." Yearn captures a deeper, more bittersweet longing than simple wanting.

Word Game Tips

Letters: 5 letters (Y, E, A, R, N)

Scrabble Value: 8 points

Tip: Words ending in "RN" are often good scoring opportunities.

Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!

Ready to find words like "yearn" in a puzzle? Try today's Zabble challenge!