# yearn

> English word · Verb · IPA /jɜːn/ · frequency rank #30,293

## Definitions
1. To have a strong desire for something or to do something; to long for or to do something.
2. To have a strong desire for something or to do something; to long for or to do something.
3. Of music, words, etc.: to express strong desire or longing.
4. To have strong feelings of affection, love, sympathy, etc., toward someone.
5. To be distressed or pained; to grieve; to mourn.
6. Often followed by out: to perform (music) which conveys or say (words) which express strong desire or longing.
7. To have a strong desire or longing (for something or to do something).
8. To cause (someone) to have strong feelings of affection, love, sympathy, etc.; also, to grieve or pain (someone).

## Etymology
The verb is derived from Middle English yernen, yern (“to express or feel desire; to desire, long or wish for; to lust after; to ask or demand for”) [and other forms], from Old English ġeornan (“to desire, yearn; to beg”) [and other forms], from Proto-West Germanic *girnijan (“to be eager for, desire”), from Proto-Germanic *girnijaną (“to desire, want”), from *gernaz (“eager, willing”) (from Proto-Indo-European *gʰer- (“to yearn for”)) + *-janą (suffix forming factitive verbs from adjectives).
The noun is derived from the verb.

## Easily confused with
- **yen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yearn-vs-yen)
- **yer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yearn-vs-yer)
- **yuan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yearn-vs-yuan)
- **years** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yearn-vs-years)
- **Yemen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yearn-vs-yemen)
- **yeast** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yearn-vs-yeast)
- **Yeats** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yearn-vs-yeats)
- **yea** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yea-vs-yearn)
- **yan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yan-vs-yearn)
- **yar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yar-vs-yearn)
- **year** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/year-vs-yearn)
- **yeah** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yeah-vs-yearn)
- **yard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yard-vs-yearn)
- **yarn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yarn-vs-yearn)
- **yawn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yawn-vs-yearn)
- **yearly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yearly-vs-yearn)

## Common misspellings (7)
`eyarn`, `yaern`, `yeanr`, `yearnn`, `yearrn`, `yeran`, `yyearn`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/yearn