English · Emotions & Feelings
longing
/ˈlɒŋ.ɪŋ/
[/ˈlɒŋ.ɪŋ/]
strong yearning
Intermediatenoun
Definition
A strong feeling of wanting something or someone, especially out of reach.
Example
A quiet longing for her childhood home filled her whenever she smelled fresh bread baking.
A quiet longing for her childhood home filled her whenever she smelled fresh bread baking.
Etymology
From Old English 'langian' (to yearn), related to 'long'.
How & Where It’s Used
A literary and emotional word for deep yearning or wistful desire.