noun
longing
LO-ngihng
noun
1
A strong, often wistful desire for something.
"She felt a quiet longing for her childhood home."
"His letters were filled with longing for his family back home."
How to Use Longing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA deep, often sad, yearning for something you don't currently have.
Common pairings
a longing for home
feel a longing
deep longing
Word Forms
longings plural
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She felt a quiet _____ for her childhood home.
Etymology
From Old English longung, langung ("longing, desire"), related to the verb "long" (to yearn).