Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Indicating boredom, sleepiness, or inattention: Used to describe someone or something that shows a lack of attention, interest, or alertness, often associated with the physical act of yawning.
   • With the mouth wide open: Describing a person or creature with their mouth opened wide, typically in the act of yawning.
   • Wide and deep; gaping: Describing something that is opened very wide, often in a way that seems deep, vast, or threatening.

2. Noun:

   • The act of yawning: An involuntary, deep inhalation of breath through a wide-open mouth, often triggered by tiredness, boredom, or a need for oxygen.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The lecturer tried to ignore the yawning students in the front row.
  • A yawning chasm separated the two cliffs.
  • He gave a yawning stretch after waking up.

• Noun:

  • She tried to hide a yawning behind her hand during the meeting.
  • A contagious yawning spread through the room.

Advanced Usage

• "A yawning gap/divide/chasm": Used metaphorically to describe a very large and significant difference or separation between two things (e.g., ideas, social classes, amounts).
  • There is a yawning gap between the rich and the poor in that country.
• "A yawning silence": A prolonged, deep, and noticeable silence.
  • After his controversial statement, a yawning silence fell over the crowd.

Variants and Related Words

• Yawn (verb/noun): The base form. To open the mouth wide and inhale deeply; the act itself.
  • Verb: I always yawn when I'm bored.
  • Noun: He let out a loud yawn.
• Yawner (noun, informal): Something that is extremely boring.
  • That three-hour lecture was a real yawner.

Synonyms

• Adjective (for boredom): Bored, inattentive, drowsy, sleepy.
• Adjective (for wide open): Gaping, vast, cavernous, wide.
• Noun: Oscitancy (formal).

Related Phrases

• To stifle/suppress a yawn: To try to stop a yawn from being visible or audible.
  • She stifled a yawn during the long presentation.
• A contagious yawn: A yawn that is triggered by seeing, hearing, or thinking about someone else yawning.
  • Just reading about a contagious yawn might make you want to do it.

Adjective

1. showing lack of attention or boredom
   • the yawning congregation
2. with the mouth wide open indicating boredom or sleepiness
   • a yawning congregation
3. gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or something
   • the yawning mine shaft
   • a yawning abyss

Noun

1. an involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouth; usually triggered by fatigue or boredom
   • he could not suppress a yawn
   • the yawning in the audience told him it was time to stop
   • he apologized for his oscitancy