What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
yearn
Example
She yearned for the love of her life who had passed away. [yearned: past tense]
Example
He yearns to travel the world and experience new cultures. [yearns: present tense]
crave
Example
I crave chocolate whenever I'm feeling stressed. [crave: verb]
Example
Her cravings for nicotine made it difficult to quit smoking. [cravings: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Crave is more commonly used than yearn in everyday language. Crave is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while yearn is less common and often used in more literary or poetic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between yearn and crave?
While yearn is typically associated with a more formal or literary tone, crave is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
