Yearn vs. Long — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 25, 2024
Yearning is an intense, deep desire often tinged with sadness or melancholy, whereas longing can be less intense and not necessarily sad, involving a strong desire or wish for something.
Difference Between Yearn and Long
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Yearning is characterized by a profound, often poignant emotion that typically involves an element of sadness or unfulfillment. On the other hand, longing refers to a strong desire or wish that may not carry the same depth of emotional intensity or melancholy.
Yearning often implies a deeper emotional state that can impact a person's mood and overall disposition, reflecting a heartfelt, sometimes unattainable desire. Whereas longing can be seen as a more surface-level emotion, which could be directed towards more tangible or achievable goals.
The context in which yearning is used usually suggests a sense of longing for something lost or unreachable, imbued with a sense of nostalgia or grief. On the other hand, longing might be used in a broader range of scenarios, from casual wishes to intense desires, but without the inherent sadness that yearning carries.
For example, one might yearn for a lost love, suggesting a deep, persistent ache for someone absent. In contrast, one might long to visit a place or meet a friend, which involves eagerness and anticipation without the same level of emotional pain.
The emotional weight of yearning can have a profound effect on literature, music, and art, often evoking a deeper connection with the audience. Longing, while still powerful, might not evoke the same depth of emotional resonance, but can still effectively express human desires and aspirations.
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Comparison Chart
Intensity
Intense and deep
Strong but not necessarily intense
Emotional Tone
Often tinged with sadness or melancholy
Not necessarily sad, more neutral
Context
Implies something lost or unattainable
Can be about achievable or tangible things
Usage in Language
Used in deeper, more emotional contexts
Used in both casual and serious contexts
Impact on Mood
Can affect mood and disposition significantly
Affects mood, but less deeply
Compare with Definitions
Yearn
Frequently associated with emotional or nostalgic contexts.
She yearned to hear his voice again.
Long
To feel a strong desire or wish for something.
He longed to travel the world.
Yearn
To have a deep, emotional desire, often accompanied by sadness.
She yearned for the days of her youth.
Long
Less likely to be associated with sadness.
They longed for sunshine during the rainy season.
Yearn
Reflects a profound longing for something possibly unattainable.
He yearned for a reconciliation that might never come.
Long
Influences mood in terms of eagerness and anticipation.
Longing for the concert, she counted down the days.
Yearn
Can influence one's emotional state deeply.
Yearning for her old home, she felt a constant sadness.
Long
Versatile in usage, applicable in various contexts.
He longed for a slice of his grandmother's pie.
Yearn
Often used in poetic or literary expressions.
The poet wrote about yearning for a lost homeland.
Long
Can apply to tangible, achievable goals.
She longed for the weekend to relax.
Yearn
To have a strong, often sad longing
Yearn for a better life.
Yearn to see an old friend.
Long
Extending or traveling a relatively great distance.
Yearn
To feel deep pity, sympathy, or tenderness
Yearned over the child's fate.
Long
Having relatively great height; tall.
Yearn
To have a strong desire for something or to do something; to long for or to do something.
All I yearn for is a simple life.
Long
Having the greater length of two or the greatest length of several
The long edge of the door.
Yearn
(specifically) To long for something in the past with melancholy or nostalgia.
Long
Of relatively great duration
A long time.
Yearn
(intransitive) Of music, words, etc.: to express strong desire or longing.
Long
Of a specified linear extent or duration
A mile long.
An hour long.
Yearn
To have strong feelings of affection, love, sympathy, etc., toward someone.
Long
Made up of many members or items
A long shopping list.
Yearn
To be distressed or pained; to grieve; to mourn.
Long
Extending beyond an average or standard
A long game.
Yearn
(transitive) Often followed by out: to perform (music) which conveys or say (words) which express strong desire or longing.
Long
Extending or landing beyond a given boundary, limit, or goal
Her first serve was long.
Yearn
To have a strong desire or longing (for something or to do something).
Long
Tediously protracted; lengthy
A long speech.
Yearn
To cause (someone) to have strong feelings of affection, love, sympathy, etc.; also, to grieve or pain (someone).
Long
Concerned with distant issues; far-reaching
Took a long view of the geopolitical issues.
Yearn
Of milk: to curdle, especially in the cheesemaking process.
Long
Involving substantial chance; risky
Long odds.
Yearn
Of cheese: to be made from curdled milk.
Long
Having an abundance or excess of
"politicians whose résumés are long on competence" (Margaret Garrard Warner).
Yearn
To curdle (milk), especially in the cheesemaking process.
Long
Having a holding of a commodity or security in expectation of a rise in price
Long on soybeans.
Yearn
To make (cheese) from curdled milk.
Long
(Linguistics) Having a comparatively great duration. Used of a vowel or consonant.
Yearn
A strong desire or longing; a yearning, a yen.
Long
(Grammar) Relating to or being the English speech sounds (ā, ē, ī, ō, ) that are tense vowels or diphthongs.
Yearn
To pain; to grieve; to vex.
It yearns me not if men my garments wear.
Long
Being of relatively great duration. Used of a syllable in quantitative prosody.
Yearn
To be pained or distressed; to grieve; to mourn.
Long
During or for an extended period of time
The promotion was long due.
Yearn
To curdle, as milk.
Long
At or to a considerable distance; far
She walked long past the end of the trail.
Yearn
To be filled with longing desire; to be harassed or rendered uneasy with longing, or feeling the want of a thing; to strain with emotions of affection or tenderness; to long; to be eager.
Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother; and he sought where to weep.
Your mother's heart yearns towards you.
Long
Beyond a given boundary, limit, or goal
Hit the return long.
Yearn
Desire strongly or persistently
Long
For or throughout a specified period
They talked all night long.
Yearn
Have a desire for something or someone who is not present;
She ached for a cigarette
I am pining for my lover
Long
At a point of time distant from that referred to
That event took place long before we were born.
Yearn
Have affection for; feel tenderness for
Long
Into or in a long position, as of a commodity market.
Long
A long time
This won't take long.
Long
(Linguistics) A long syllable, vowel, or consonant.
Long
One who acquires holdings in a security or commodity in expectation of a rise in price.
Long
A garment size for a tall person.
Long
Longs Trousers extending to the feet or ankles.
Long
To have an earnest, heartfelt desire, especially for something beyond reach.
Long
Having much distance from one terminating point on an object or an area to another terminating point usually applies to horizontal dimensions; see Usage Notes below.
It's a long way from the Earth to the Moon.
How long was your newborn baby?
Long
Having great duration.
The pyramids of Egypt have been around for a long time.
Long
Seemingly lasting a lot of time, because it is boring or tedious or tiring.
Long
Not short; tall.
Long
(finance) Possessing or owning stocks, bonds, commodities or other financial instruments with the aim of benefiting of the expected rise in their value.
I'm long in DuPont.
I have a long position in DuPont.
Long
(cricket) Of a fielding position, close to the boundary (or closer to the boundary than the equivalent short position).
Long
Landing beyond the baseline, and therefore deemed to be out.
That forehand is long.
Long
(gambling) Of betting odds, offering a very large return for a small wager.
Long
Occurring or coming after an extended interval; distant in time; far away.
Long
(archaic) On account of, because of.
Long
(linguistics) A long vowel.
Long
(prosody) A long syllable.
Long
(music) A note formerly used in music, one half the length of a large, twice that of a breve.
Long
(programming) A long integer variable, twice the size of an int, two or four times the size of a short, and half of a long long.
A long is typically 64 bits in a 32-bit environment.
Long
(finance) An entity with a long position in an asset.
Every uptick made the longs cheer.
Long
(finance) A long-term investment.
Long
The long summer vacation at the English universities.
Long
Longitude
Long
To take a long position in.
Long
(intransitive) To await, aspire, desire greatly (something to occur or to be true).
She longed for him to come back.
Long
(archaic) To be appropriate to, to pertain or belong to.
Long
(obsolete) To belong.
Long
Over a great distance in space.
He threw the ball long.
Long
For a particular duration.
How long is it until the next bus arrives?
Long
For a long duration.
Will this interview take long?
Paris has long been considered one of the most cultured cities in the world.
She has known us as long as you
I haven't long to live.
Long
Drawn out in a line, or in the direction of length; protracted; extended; as, a long line; - opposed to short, and distinguished from broad or wide.
Long
Drawn out or extended in time; continued through a considerable tine, or to a great length; as, a long series of events; a long debate; a long drama; a long history; a long book.
Long
Slow in passing; causing weariness by length or duration; lingering; as, long hours of watching.
Long
Occurring or coming after an extended interval; distant in time; far away.
The we may us reserve both fresh and strongAgainst the tournament, which is not long.
Long
Having a length of the specified measure; of a specified length; as, a span long; a yard long; a mile long, that is, extended to the measure of a mile, etc.
Long
Far-reaching; extensive.
Long
Having a supply of stocks or goods; prepared for, or depending for a profit upon, advance in prices; as, long of cotton. Hence, the phrases: to be, or go, long of the market, to be on the long side of the market, to hold products or securities for a rise in price, esp. when bought on a margin. Contrasted to short.
Long
A note formerly used in music, one half the length of a large, twice that of a breve.
Long
A long sound, syllable, or vowel.
Long
The longest dimension; the greatest extent; - in the phrase, the long and the short of it, that is, the sum and substance of it.
Long
To a great extent in space; as, a long drawn out line.
Long
To a great extent in time; during a long time.
They that tarry long at the wine.
When the trumpet soundeth long.
Long
At a point of duration far distant, either prior or posterior; as, not long before; not long after; long before the foundation of Rome; long after the Conquest.
Long
Through the whole extent or duration.
The bird of dawning singeth all night long.
Long
Through an extent of time, more or less; - only in question; as, how long will you be gone?
Long
By means of; by the fault of; because of.
Long
To feel a strong or morbid desire or craving; to wish for something with eagerness; - followed by an infinitive, or by for or after.
I long to see you.
I have longed after thy precepts.
I have longed for thy salvation.
Nicomedes, longing for herrings, was supplied with fresh ones . . . at a great distance from the sea.
Long
To belong; - used with to, unto, or for.
The labor which that longeth unto me.
Long
A comparatively long time;
This won't take long
They haven't been gone long
Long
Desire strongly or persistently
Long
Primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified;
A long life
A long boring speech
A long time
A long friendship
A long game
Long ago
An hour long
Long
Primarily spatial sense; of relatively great or greater than average spatial extension or extension as specified;
A long road
A long distance
Contained many long words
Ten miles long
Long
Of relatively great height;
A race of long gaunt men
Looked out the long French windows
Long
Holding securities or commodities in expectation of a rise in prices;
Is long on coffee
A long position in gold
Long
Of speech sounds (especially vowels) of relatively long duration (as e.g. the English vowel sounds in `bate', `beat', `bite', `boat', `boot')
Long
Used of syllables that are unaccented or of relatively long duration
Long
Involving substantial risk;
Long odds
Long
(of memory) having greater than average range;
A long memory especially for insults
A tenacious memory
Long
Planning prudently for the future;
Large goals that required farsighted policies
Took a long view of the geopolitical issues
Long
Having or being more than normal or necessary:
Long on brains
In long supply
Long
For an extended time or at a distant time;
A promotion long overdue
Something long hoped for
His name has long been forgotten
Talked all night long
How long will you be gone?
Arrived long before he was expected
It is long after your bedtime
Long
For an extended distance
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to long for something?
To long for something means to have a strong desire or wish for it, which could be something missing or just something one wishes to have or experience.
How do writers use yearning and longing in literature?
Writers use yearning to convey deep emotional states and unresolved desires, while longing can be used to express a broader range of desires and anticipations.
Is yearning always sad?
Yearning often includes an element of sadness or melancholy, particularly because it's associated with desires for things that are unattainable or lost.
What is the difference in intensity between yearning and longing?
Yearning is generally more intense and emotionally laden, often with sadness, whereas longing may not be as intense and can be neutral or positive.
How does yearning affect one's mood?
Yearning can deeply affect one's mood, often leading to feelings of sadness, nostalgia, or melancholy due to the unattainable nature of the desire.
Can longing be positive?
Yes, longing can be positive and is often associated with anticipation and eagerness towards future experiences or achievements.
Are yearning and longing used interchangeably in language?
While they can be used interchangeably in casual conversation, yearning and longing have distinct emotional connotations and should be chosen carefully based on the context.
What does it mean to yearn for something?
To yearn for something means to have a deep, often melancholic desire for something, especially something that is absent or lost.
Why is yearning considered a powerful emotion?
Yearning is considered powerful because of its depth and the profound impact it can have on one's emotional state and overall outlook on life.
Can longing turn into yearning?
Yes, if a desire becomes deeper, more emotional, and tinged with melancholy, what starts as longing might evolve into yearning.
Is yearning a common theme in music?
Yes, yearning is a common theme in music, particularly in genres like blues and soul, where deep emotional expression is central.
Does culture influence what individuals yearn or long for?
Yes, cultural background can influence the objects or states that individuals yearn or long for, shaping desires based on societal values and personal upbringing.
How do yearning and longing manifest in relationships?
In relationships, yearning might manifest as a deep longing for closeness or reunion with someone lost or distant, while longing could be a desire for more time, deeper connection, or shared experiences.
What kinds of things do people commonly long for?
People commonly long for things like success, personal connections, adventure, relaxation, or specific goals.
What role do yearning and longing play in personal growth?
Yearning and longing can motivate individuals to pursue personal growth, change, or fulfillment, acting as catalysts for seeking new experiences or resolving past issues.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
