Definition

Feeling a strong desire or wish for something that is often difficult to obtain.

Example

She felt a deep longing for her childhood home.

Conversation

I've been feeling a bit of longing for my hometown lately.

Really? What do you miss most about it?

I think it's mostly the food and the people I grew up with.

That makes sense; those are hard to replace.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

A strong feeling of wanting something or someone that is often difficult to achieve or obtain.

Example

She felt a deep longing for her childhood home.

Conversation

I often feel this deep sense of longing for adventure.

I get that! Sometimes I wish I could just travel anywhere right now.

Yeah, it's like there's a part of me that craves something more.

Root Explanation

Longing → It originates from the Old English 'longian' (meaning to long for or desire). The word 'longing' describes a strong desire or yearning for something.

Memory Tip

Think of the Old English word 'longian' which means to desire something deeply — that's why longing means a strong desire.

Visually Confused Words