What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
crave
Example
I'm craving pizza tonight. [craving: present participle]
Example
She couldn't resist the craving for chocolate cake. [craving: noun]
yearn
Example
He yearned for the days when he was young and carefree. [yearned: past tense]
Example
She felt a yearning for her homeland, even though she had been away for many years. [yearning: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Crave is more commonly used in everyday language than yearn. Crave is often used to describe physical desires, while yearn is more often used in romantic or poetic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between crave and yearn?
Both crave and yearn are relatively informal words, but yearn may be considered slightly more formal due to its association with romantic or poetic language.
