yawn
5 synonyms for yawn, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To open the mouth wide and take a deep breath involuntarily, usually from tiredness or boredom.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To open the mouth wide and take a deep breath involuntarily, usually from tiredness or boredom.
“She tried to stifle a yawn during the long meeting.”
How to use yawn
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
stifle a yawn
big yawn
what a yawn
Etymology
From Old English ġinian and gānian, both meaning "to gape or yawn," tracing back to a very old Indo-European root for opening the mouth wide.
Full origin of yawn →Frequently asked questions
What does “yawn” mean?
The word “yawn” means to open the mouth wide and take a deep breath involuntarily, usually from tiredness or boredom. In plain terms, the wide-mouthed deep breath you take when tired or bored, or (informally) something dull enough to cause one.
How do you pronounce “yawn”?
“Yawn” is pronounced yawn (/jɔn/ in IPA).
How do you use “yawn” in a sentence?
Here is “yawn” used in a sentence: “She tried to stifle a yawn during the long meeting.”
What part of speech is “yawn”?
Depending on how it is used, “yawn” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “yawn” come from?
The word “yawn” comes from Old English. From Old English ġinian and gānian, both meaning "to gape or yawn," tracing back to a very old Indo-European root for opening the mouth wide.
How many meanings does “yawn” have?
“Yawn” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to open the mouth wide and take a deep breath involuntarily, usually from tiredness or boredom.
