longing
Deep persistent want
Longing is a persistent, aching desire for something absent or unattainable—a person, a place, a time past.
It carries more emotional weight than simple wanting: She felt a deep longing for home.
The word suggests sustained yearning rather than fleeting wish, often tinged with sadness or nostalgia.
As an adjective, it describes the look or feeling itself: a longing glance, longing eyes.
Powerful urge to have
- hungerNeed for nourishment
- thirstNeed for fluid
- covetingDesiring what's another's
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
wanting · wish · hope · urge · need · itch · eagerness · fervor
Intense prolonged craving
- piningAching with prolonged desire
- achePersistent dull discomfort
- sighAudible emotional breath
- daydreamConscious fantasy while awake
reverie · bittersweet · pensive · contemplative · reflective · wishful · dreamy · languid
One who is treasured
- lovesickPining from romantic longing
- amourRomantic liaison, often illicit
- sweetheartAffectionate name for beloved
- soulmateDeeply compatible life partner
pining · infatuation · enamored · truelove · paramour · flame · devotion · adoration
Space between two points
- farewellLeave-taking expression
- absenceState of not being
- partingAct of leaving another
- goodbyeDeparting salutation
estrangement · exile · alienation · apart · away · departed · missing · lost
Longing for the past
- homesicknessLonging for one's dwelling
- reminiscenceRecalling past experiences
- memoriesStored past experiences
- yesteryearTime not long past
bygone · halcyon · sentimental · flashback · heritage · past · heirloom · homeland
Deep emotional distress
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
sadness · lament · woe · forlorn · mournful · despondency · dejection · plaintive
Surpassing usual limits
- divineOf or from gods
- salvationDeliverance from harm
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
moksha · redemption · heaven · paradise · eternity · wholeness · connection · meaning
craving
Powerful urge to have
aspiration · wanting · wish · hope · urge · need · itch · eagerness · fervor · ardor
yearning
Intense prolonged craving
daydream · reverie · bittersweet · pensive · contemplative · reflective · wishful · dreamy · languid · soulful
beloved
One who is treasured
- lovesickPining from romantic longing
- amourRomantic liaison, often illicit
- sweetheartAffectionate name for beloved
soulmate · pining · infatuation · enamored · truelove · paramour · flame · devotion · adoration · unrequited
distance
Space between two points
goodbye · estrangement · exile · alienation · apart · away · departed · missing · lost · scattered
nostalgia
Longing for the past
- homesicknessLonging for one's dwelling
- reminiscenceRecalling past experiences
- memoriesStored past experiences
yesteryear · bygone · halcyon · sentimental · flashback · heritage · past · heirloom · homeland · motherland
sorrow
Deep emotional distress
melancholy · sadness · lament · woe · forlorn · mournful · despondency · dejection · plaintive · somber
transcendence
Surpassing usual limits
- divineOf or from gods
- salvationDeliverance from harm
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
nirvana · moksha · redemption · heaven · paradise · eternity · wholeness · connection · meaning · purpose
- longingyearning, pining, craving, hankering, wishing
- Love themesamour, passion, romance, affection, devotion
- Emotional Musicballad, ballads, love song, love songs, torch song
- homesicknesshomesick, homesickness, missing home, yearning, pining
- love conceptstrue love, soulmates, romantic idealism, eternal love, unrequited love
- Romantic themespassion, romance, affection, devotion, heartbreak
longingindifference
Lack of interest
apathy · unconcern · disinterest · nonchalance · insouciance
longingrevulsion
Intense physical disgust
repulsion · loathing · disgust · aversion · abhorrence
longingcontentment
Peaceful satisfaction with circumstances
satisfaction · fulfillment · satiation · gratification · contentedness
- longing forIntense persistent desire toward
- romantic longingHeartache for desired person
- spiritual longingDesire for transcendence
- unrequited longing
- wistful longingMelancholy desire for something distant