Hanker vs Longing - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between hanker and longing

is that hanker is to crave, want or desire while longing is present participle of lang=en.

an earnest and deep, not greatly passionate, but rather melancholic desire.

(en verb)

To crave, want or desire.

If you hanker for chocolate, you'll like this fudge recipe.

*2012 , The Economist, 13 Oct 2012, Butlers: Very good, sir

*:[...] the newly rich hanker after old aristocratic glitz.

* Usually used with for, as in the example above; after may also be used.

(head)

(en noun)

An earnest and deep, not greatly passionate, but rather melancholic desire.

The buying of a financial instrument with the expectation that its value will rise

* yearning