hanker
/hæɳkə/
Definition
Verb: To have a strong, persistent, and often restless desire for something; to yearn or long for something intensely.
Usage
The verb "hanker" is used to express a deep, sometimes nagging, craving or wish for something that one does not currently have. It often implies a sense of nostalgia or a desire for something unattainable or from the past. It is commonly followed by the prepositions for or after.
Examples
- She hankered for the quiet life of the countryside after years in the noisy city.
- Even as an adult, he sometimes hankers after the carefree days of his childhood.
- I don't know why, but I just hanker for a slice of homemade apple pie right now.
Advanced Usage
- To hanker to do something: This structure uses an infinitive to express a strong desire to perform a specific action.
- He hankered to travel the world and see all its wonders.
- The noun form is hankering, meaning a persistent desire.
- She had a sudden hankering for salty potato chips.
Variants and Related Words
- Hankering (n): A strong, persistent desire.
- I have a hankering to visit my old school.
Synonyms
- Yearn
- Long
- Crave
- Pine
- Lust (for)
Related Phrases
- Hanker after/for: The standard phrasal construction.
- Many people hanker after fame, not realizing its burdens.
Verb
-
desire strongly or persistently
