yearn after

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "yearn after" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a strong desire or longing for something or someone. Example: "She would often yearn after the days of her childhood, filled with innocence and joy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

However, Peel's punk conversion changed both his format and his audience, and Radio 1 evidently yearn after a late show with more appeal to the middle of the road.

The Guardian

The shelves in the travel bookshops are now weighed down with guidebooks, while readers who yearn after other places seem to choose detectives stories set in the likes of Scandinavia (Henning Mankell), Cuba (Leonardo Padura Fuentes) and Botswana (Alexander McCall Smith).

The Guardian - Books

As to International law and world governance the only two groups that have wanted that are Communists and fundamental Islamists who yearn after a world empire of their own.

BBC

"In each culture, values are slightly different; people aspire after different aims, follow different impulses, yearn after a different form of happiness.

BMC Medical Education

On the one hand, it's comforting and dreamy to yearn after a Mr. Darcy-like man.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But it may mean a poignant legacy for this indomitable, secular Jew born into the Middle East: an Israel that is increasingly religious, walled off from its neighbors, simultaneously yearning after and fearing a Western community of nations that sees it as more and more foreign.

The New York Times - Magazine

I'd sit at my computer, staring out the window at those yearned-after warm waters and watch the trade winds blow through the palms, and I'd wonder: how did I recreate the same experience of loneliness for myself here that I did on the mainland?

HuffPost

The great American jobs machine depends on small businesses, relatively free of government, yearning for after-tax profitability, earned in dollars that hold their value over the decades.

Forbes

This dispirits those Democrats who yearned, after eight years of George Bush, for audacious change.

The Economist

There is much yearning after genuine spiritual wisdom, but there is an equal amount of yearning after false gods, bogus knowledge and hokey, New Age mumbo-jumbo.

The New York Times - Books

He yearns after Clare Clare Dunnn) and is upset that Stu (Stuart Barter) has been promoted above him.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "yearn after" when you want to convey a sense of deep longing, often for something that seems distant or unattainable. It adds an emotional depth to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "yearn after" in contexts where a simple "want" or "desire" would suffice. The phrase carries a strong emotional weight and can sound melodramatic if overused.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "yearn after" functions as a dynamic verb phrase expressing a state of longing or intense desire. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Examples show its use in various contexts to depict deep emotional craving.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "yearn after" is a valid and usable expression in English, denoting a deep and intense longing or desire. Ludwig AI analysis indicates its grammatical correctness. Though relatively rare in overall usage, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, the phrase is most commonly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts. When using "yearn after", be mindful of its emotional weight to avoid sounding melodramatic, and consider alternatives like "long for" or "crave" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yearn for

Removes the preposition "after", slightly broadening the scope of what can be yearned for.

long for

Implies a deep and persistent desire, often tinged with sadness or wistfulness.

crave

Suggests a powerful and often urgent desire, sometimes for something that is difficult to obtain.

desire intensely

Highlights the strength and intensity of the feeling of wanting something.

have a strong longing for

Emphasizes the emotional aspect of wanting something, highlighting the sense of loss or absence.

pine for

Implies a melancholic and sentimental longing, often for something unattainable.

hunger after

Conveys a strong need or appetite, both literally and figuratively.

thirst for

Similar to "hunger after", but often used in the context of knowledge or experience.

aspire to

Focuses on the ambition to achieve something, often something high or noble.

wish for ardently

Highlights the passionate and fervent nature of the wish.

FAQs

How to use "yearn after" in a sentence?

Use "yearn after" to express a deep longing or desire for something, often something that is difficult to obtain. For example: "She would often "yearn after" the days of her youth".

What can I say instead of "yearn after"?

You can use alternatives like "long for", "crave", or "desire intensely" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "yearn after" or "yearn for"?

Both ""yearn after"" and "yearn for" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice between them often depends on personal preference or the specific nuance you want to express.

What's the difference between "yearn after" and "aspire to"?

"Yearn after" implies a deep longing or desire, often for something unattainable or in the past. "Aspire to", on the other hand, suggests a strong ambition or goal that one actively strives to achieve.