What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pining
Example
After her dog passed away, she spent months pining for him. [pining: verb]
Example
He was in a state of pining after his girlfriend moved away. [pining: gerund or present participle]
longing
Example
She felt a deep longing for the home she left behind. [longing: noun]
Example
He was longing for the day when he could see his family again. [longing: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Longing is more commonly used than pining in everyday language. Longing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pining is less common and may be considered more formal or literary.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pining and longing?
Pining is generally considered more formal or literary than longing. While both words can be used in formal or informal contexts, pining may be more appropriate in writing or literature, while longing is more commonly used in everyday speech.
