pining

[ pahy-ning ]

adjective

1. suffering with or expressing longing or yearning for someone or something:

   Exposing her vulnerability and loneliness, the poet addresses her country as would a pining woman in a letter to her beloved in a distant land.

   Her pining vocals on these tracks throb with the loneliness and emptiness of fresh separation.

2. failing gradually in health or vitality, especially from grief, regret, or longing:

   The day after the altercation he took sick, and continued in a pining and languishing condition till his death, which soon ensued.

noun

1. the act or state of yearning or longing, or of gradually failing in health or vitality:

   It’s a story of the pining we all feel for the pleasures of our childhood and the relationships that once held us in safety.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pining¹

First recorded in 1200–50; pin(e) ²( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; pin(e) ²( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun sense

Example Sentences

Advised by friends to "love again", she began seeing a wounded soldier called Norman, while still pining for Ron.

From BBC

“A lot of legacy-media people were pining for Trump’s return because they know it’s going to be a s— show every single day,” Martin said.

From Los Angeles Times

Few could have a more seamless transition than Slot, with no Liverpool fans pining for the possibilities offered by Alonso any longer.

From BBC

Biden spent decades of his life chasing and pining after the presidency and when he finally realized his dream, he proved quite adept at the job.

From Los Angeles Times

Debate about Zegler’s casting has bubbled up several times since, including after a slew of 2022 red-carpet interviews wherein the “West Side Story” actor said her rendition of the iconic princess wouldn’t spend her days pining over a man.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• attitude
• character
• decision
• desire
• determination
• discipline
• feeling
• inclination
• intention
• mind
• passion
• power
• resolution
• resolve
• wish