What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
longing
Example
She felt a deep longing for her home country, especially during the holidays. [longing: noun]
Example
He was longing to see his family after being away for so long. [longing: verb]
yearning
Example
She had a yearning for adventure and travel, but couldn't afford to go anywhere. [yearning: noun]
Example
He was yearning to be with his partner, who lived in another country. [yearning: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Longing is more commonly used than yearning in everyday language. Longing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while yearning is less common and tends to be used in more poetic or romantic contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between longing and yearning?
Both longing and yearning are formal words that are often used in literature or poetry. However, longing is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while yearning is more commonly used in formal or poetic contexts.
