yearningEnglishOxford Dictionary of Englishyearning /ˈjəːnɪŋ / ▸ noun a feeling of intense longing for something, typically something that one been separated from or that is unattainable: he felt a yearning for the mountains. ▸ adjective involving or expressing yearning: a yearning hope. – DERIVATIVES yearningly /ˈjəːnɪŋli / adverb