Pronunciation: /ˈlɔŋɪŋ/

Definitions of longing

noun a strong feeling of wanting or desiring something

Example Sentences

A1 She felt a deep longing for her homeland.

A2 His longing for adventure led him to explore new places.

B1 The longing for connection with others is a universal human experience.

B2 Despite the distance, their longing for each other only grew stronger.

C1 Her longing for success drove her to work tirelessly towards her goals.

C2 The artist's longing for perfection was evident in every brushstroke of his masterpiece.

adjective having or showing a strong desire or craving

Example Sentences

A1 She felt a longing desire to see her family again.

A2 The puppy had a longing look in its eyes as it watched its owner leave.

B1 After years of living abroad, he felt a longing nostalgia for his hometown.

B2 The painting evoked a sense of longing for a time long past.

C1 His longing for adventure led him to travel to remote and exotic locations.

C2 The novel beautifully captured the protagonist's deep longing for love and connection.

Examples of longing in a Sentence

formal The artist's paintings exuded a sense of longing for a time long past.

informal She couldn't help but feel a deep longing for her hometown while away at college.

slang I've been feeling major FOMO lately, just a longing to be back with my friends.

figurative His eyes held a longing that spoke of unfulfilled dreams and lost opportunities.

Grammatical Forms of longing

past tense

longed

plural

longings

comparative

longer

superlative

longest

present tense

long

future tense

will long

perfect tense

have longed

continuous tense

is longing

singular

longing

positive degree

longing

infinitive

to long

gerund

longing

participle

longed

Origin and Evolution of longing

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'longing' originated from the Old English word 'langung' which meant a strong desire or yearning.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'longing' has retained its core meaning of a deep desire or yearning, but has also come to encompass a sense of nostalgia or wistfulness.