yearn

2 definitions • 3 examples

to wish very strongly, especially for something that you cannot have or something that is very difficult to have:

Despite his great commercial success he still yearns for critical approval.

[ + to infinitive ] Sometimes I just yearn to be alone.

to desire something strongly, esp. something difficult or impossible to obtain:

[ + to infinitive ] Joy yearns to earn enough money from her job as a doctor’s assistant for her to become independent.