WordGarden.iohanker
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈæŋkə/
US
- /ˈhæŋkər/
Meanings
Verb
to strongly want or long for something
Beyond the definition
If you hanker for something, you want it strongly and keep thinking about it, often because it feels far away, lost, or hard to get. Maybe you grew up on your grandmother's apple pie and now hanker after that taste whenever autumn rolls around. It suggests a lasting longing, not just a passing wish. Think of an old sailor who has been at sea for years; he might hanker for the sight of land.
The word often carries a wistful feeling, as if you are reaching for something just beyond your grasp. It is usually about something you miss, want back, or wish you could have. Very often, it has a nostalgic tone, especially when someone is longing for earlier days, familiar comforts, or old memories.
To hanker is to feel a strong, persistent longing for something. It is more than a simple want. The feeling stays with you, returns to your mind, and can carry a note of restlessness or sadness. People often use the word when the desire feels personal and lasting rather than casual.
You might hanker after a past experience, like a childhood summer at the beach. Or you could hanker for a particular thing, maybe a vintage guitar or a quiet cabin in the woods. The word is also common when people speak about home, comfort, freedom, love, or an earlier way of life. Often, the thing desired feels distant or out of reach, which gives the longing a slightly sad color.
The word has a slightly old-fashioned flavor and is not the usual choice for small, everyday wants. You might simply say you want a new pair of shoes. But if someone says they hanker for the days when life was simpler, the word paints a vivid picture of deep, wistful longing.
Consider this: an explorer lost in the wilderness might hanker for the comforts of home, or a musician on tour might hanker after time with family. In each case, the word suggests a desire that keeps pulling at the mind and heart. So if someone is hankering after something, they are not just casually interested; they are longing for it in a real and lingering way.
Examples
- 1
Countryside longing
After a year in the city, he began to hanker for the quiet of the countryside.
- 2
Fame
She never hankered for fame; she just wanted to do good work.
- 3
Nostalgia
Even now, some people hanker after the days when everything felt simpler.
- Usagehanker after + desired time/thing
common, but a little old-fashioned
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- hankerverb
Forms
- hankering-ing formverb
- hankeredpast tenseverb
- hankersverb