Definitions
- Expressing a desire or need for something. - Asking for something that is desired or needed. - Describing a lack of something that is needed or desired.
- Expressing a strong and intense desire for something. - Describing a deep longing or craving for something that is unattainable or difficult to obtain. - Referring to a nostalgic or sentimental longing for something that has been lost or is no longer present.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words express a desire for something.
- 2Both words are verbs that describe an action.
- 3Both words can be used to express a strong emotion.
What is the difference?
- 1Intensity: Yearn expresses a stronger and more intense desire than want.
- 2Specificity: Want is more specific and refers to a particular thing or object, while yearn can be more general and refer to a feeling or emotion.
- 3Attainability: Want implies that the desired object or thing is attainable, while yearn can imply that the desired object or thing is unattainable or difficult to obtain.
- 4Duration: Yearn can imply a longer-lasting and more persistent desire than want.
- 5Connotation: Yearn has a more emotional and sentimental connotation than want, which is more practical and straightforward.
Remember this!
Want and yearn both express a desire for something, but yearn is more intense and emotional than want. Want is more specific and practical, while yearn can be more general and sentimental. Yearn can also imply that the desired object or thing is unattainable or difficult to obtain, while want implies that it is attainable.
