Longing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈlȯŋ-iŋ/ long·ing

Meaning & Definition of Longing

Longing (noun)

  1. a strong desire especially for something unattainable, craving

Longing (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a strong wish for something

    "by four o'clock in the afternoon, I usually experience a strong longing for chocolate"

    similar: appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, jones (slang), letch, lust, passion, pining, thirst, thirstiness, urge, yearning, yen
    related: compulsion, impulse, impulsion, will, zeal, liking, love, taste, weakness, eagerness, impatience, want, wish, necessity, need, requirement, obsession, acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, covetousness, cupidity, greed, greediness, rapaciousness, rapacity, cacoëthes, mania
    near: abhorrence, abomination, allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, distaste, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, apathy, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

Longing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in ambitious, pining

    similar: ambitious, appetent, covetous, craving, hankering, pining, happy, hung up, obsessed, breathless, restive, restless, engaged, interested, amenable, disposed, game, glad, inclined, ready, unreluctant, willing, agog, antsy, anxious, ardent, athirst, avid, bonkers (informal), crazy, desirous, eager, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, geeked (slang), great, greedy, gung ho, hepped up, hopped-up, hot, hungry, impatient, juiced, keen, nuts, pumped, raring, solicitous, stoked (slang), thirsty, voracious, wild
    opposite: apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic, casual, incurious, insouciant, nonchalant, unconcerned, uninterested, aloof, detached, disinterested, impassive, stolid, halfhearted, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, lukewarm, spiritless, averse, disinclined, hesitant, loath, reluctant, unwilling

Longing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in yearning, pining

    similar: pining, yearning, agonizing, chafing, bothering, fearing, fretting, fussing, stewing, stressing, sweating, troubling, worrying, despairing
    opposite: accepting, abiding, bearing, enduring, sticking out, stomaching, sustaining, taking, tolerating

Related Entry: Long (for) (verb)

Long (for) is a different word from Longing. The synonyms below are for long (for), not for longing.

  1. to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy

    "I long for the day when cancer is but a distant and unpleasant memory"

    similar: ache (for), covet, crave, desiderate, desire, die (for), hanker (for or after), hunger (for), itch (for), jones (for) (slang), lust (for or after), pant (after), pine (for), repine (for), salivate (for), sigh (for), thirst (for), want, wish (for), yearn (for), yen (for), set one's heart on
    related: spoil (for), adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, love, relish, revel (in), favor, prefer, admire, appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value
    near: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, decline, refuse, reject, spurn

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Longing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Longing:

Slang: jones, geeked, stoked
Informal: bonkers
appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, letch, lust, passion, pining, thirst, thirstiness, urge, yearning, yen, ambitious, appetent, covetous, happy, hung up, obsessed, breathless, restive, restless, engaged, interested, amenable, disposed, game, glad, inclined, ready, unreluctant, willing, agog, antsy, anxious, ardent

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Longing

Words with the opposite meaning of Longing:

apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic, casual, incurious, insouciant, nonchalant, unconcerned, uninterested, aloof, detached, disinterested, impassive, stolid, halfhearted, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, lukewarm, spiritless, averse, disinclined, hesitant, loath, reluctant, unwilling, accepting, abiding, bearing

Related Words for Longing

compulsion, impulse, impulsion, will, zeal, liking, love, taste, weakness, eagerness, impatience, want, wish, necessity, need, requirement, obsession, acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, covetousness, cupidity, greed, greediness, rapaciousness, rapacity, cacoëthes, mania

Near Antonyms of Longing

abhorrence, abomination, allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, distaste, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, apathy, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

Word Forms of Longing

Derived words: longingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Longing

First known use: before 12th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Longing

What does "Longing" mean?

"Longing" means a strong desire especially for something unattainable, craving. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: a strong desire especially for something unattainable, craving. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Longing"?

Other words for "Longing" include appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger and itch. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Longing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Longing"?

There are 110 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Longing". Common alternatives include appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, jones and letch.

What is a slang word for "Longing"?

Slang words for "Longing" include jones, geeked and stoked.

What is the opposite of "Longing"?

Antonyms of "Longing" include apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic, casual, incurious, insouciant and nonchalant. Near antonyms include abhorrence, abomination, allergy and averseness.

How do you use "Longing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Longing" in a sentence: "by four o'clock in the afternoon, I usually experience a strong longing for chocolate".

Is "Longing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Longing" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Longing"?

"Longing" is pronounced /ˈlȯŋ-iŋ/ and divided into syllables as long·ing.