What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
want
Example
I want a slice of pizza. [want: verb]
Example
Do you want to come with me to the movies? [want: verb]
Example
She is in want of a good night's sleep. [want: noun]
yearn
Example
He yearned for her love and affection. [yearned: verb]
Example
She yearned for the days when she was young and carefree. [yearned: verb]
Example
The old man yearned for his homeland, which he had left many years ago. [yearned: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Want is a more common word than yearn and is used in everyday language. Yearn is less common and is used in more formal or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between want and yearn?
While want is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, yearn is more formal and is typically used in literary or poetic contexts.
