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Yearning vs Wanting - What's the difference?

yearning | wanting |

As nouns the difference between yearning and wanting

is that yearning is a wistful or melancholy longing while wanting is the state of wanting something; desire.

As verbs the difference between yearning and wanting

is that yearning is while wanting is .

As an adjective wanting is

absent or lacking.

As a preposition wanting is

without.

yearning

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A wistful or melancholy longing.
    • She had a yearning to see her long-lost sister again.
  • (archaic) rennet

    • Related terms

    * yearn

    Verb

    (head)
    • English abstract nouns

    wanting

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Absent or lacking.
  • * 1813 , Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice , Modern Library Edition (1995), page 171,
    • but where other powers of entertainment are wanting , the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given.

    Derived terms

    * wantingly

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • without

    • Verb

    (head)

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • The state of wanting something; desire.