yawn
yawn
Yawn (verb) means to open the mouth wide and take a deep breath involuntarily, usually from tiredness or boredom. Example: “She tried to stifle a yawn during the long meeting.”
verb
1
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."
"He yawned twice before finally admitting he needed to go to bed."
noun
1
The act of yawning.
"A big yawn spread across the room as the lecture dragged on."
2
Something extremely boring.
"The meeting was a total yawn from start to finish."
How to use yawn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe wide-mouthed deep breath you take when tired or bored, or (informally) something dull enough to cause one.
Common pairings
stifle a yawn
big yawn
what a yawn
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Word forms
- Plural
- yawns
- Third person singular
- yawns
- Past tense
- yawned
Fill the gap
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She tried to stifle a _____ during the long meeting.
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.
Synonyms
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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.
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