longing

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long·ing

(lông′ĭng, lŏng′-)

A strong persistent yearning or desire, especially one that cannot be fulfilled.

long′ing·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

longing

(ˈlɒŋɪŋ)

a prolonged unfulfilled desire or need

adj

having or showing desire or need: a longing look.

ˈlongingly adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

long•ing

(ˈlɔŋ ɪŋ, ˈlɒŋ-)

n.

1. strong, persistent desire or craving, esp. for something unattainable or distant: filled with longing for home.

2. an instance of this: a sudden longing to see old friends.

adj.

3. characterized by earnest desire: a longing look.

[before 1000]

long′ing•ly, adv.

syn: See desire.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun

longing - prolonged unfulfilled desire or need

yearning, hungriness

desire - the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

hankering, yen - a yearning for something or to do something

pining - a feeling of deep longing

wishfulness - an unrealistic yearning

wistfulness - a sadly pensive longing

nostalgia - longing for something past

discontent, discontentedness, discontentment - a longing for something better than the present situation

longing

noun

1. desire, hope, wish, burning, urge, ambition, hunger, yen (informal), hungering, aspiration, ache, craving, yearning, coveting, itch, thirst, hankering He felt a longing for the familiar.
desire disgust, loathing, disregard, indifference, apathy, revulsion, antipathy, abhorrence, unconcern

adjective

1. yearning, anxious, eager, burning, hungry, pining, craving, languishing, ardent, avid, wishful, wistful, desirous sharp intakes of breath and longing looks
yearning cold, disgusted, loathing, indifferent, unconcerned, uninterested, hateful, apathetic

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

longing

noun

A strong wanting of what promises enjoyment or pleasure:

appetence, appetency, appetite, craving, desire, hunger, itch, lust, thirst, wish, yearning, yen.

Translations

Spanish / Español

Select a language:

anhelo añoranza

longing

[ˈlɒŋɪŋ]

A. N (= yearning) (for place) → nostalgia f, añoranza f; (for past time) → añoranza f; (for person, thing) → anhelo m
she felt a longing for her childhood days → añoraba los días de su infancia
he felt a longing for his homeland → sentía nostalgia por su país, añoraba su país
people have a longing for normality → la gente anhela la normalidad
she gazed at him with longing → lo miró con anhelo

B. ADJ [look] → anhelante

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

long²

(loŋ) verb

(often with for) to wish very much. He longed to go home; I am longing for a drink.anhelar, ansiar

ˈlonging noun

a great desire or wish for something. She looked at the cakes with longing.anhelo, deseo, añoranza

ˈlongingly adverb

She looked longingly at the chocolate. con anhelo, con deseo

longing

n. deseo, anhelo, ansia.

References in classic literature ?

Sometimes great ships sailed by, and then with longing eyes did the little Spirit gaze up at the faces that looked down upon the sea; for often they were kind and pleasant ones, and she gladly would have called to them and asked them to be friends.

I would gladly stay yet longer, but we cannot dwell together, and I am longing sadly for my own cool home.

View in context

Thou canst not adorn thyself fine enough for thy friend; for thou shalt be unto him an arrow and a longing for the Superman.

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