hanker
HANG-ker
/ˈhæŋ.kər/
To feel a strong, restless desire or longing for something.
Suggests a lingering, persistent, often nagging itch or appetite.
The story behind the word. Originated from Middle Dutch, literal meaning 'to hang around' something with restless desire, entering English in the 16th century.
Word relationships
- covet: Covet means desiring what belongs to someone else; hanker is a general restless craving.
- yearn: Yearn is poetic and lofty; hanker is earthy and restless.
- spurn: Spurn means to reject with disdain.
Commonly confused with
- canker: Canker is an ulcer or destructive disease; hanker is an eager desire.
Word family
- hankering (noun): A persistent craving or desire.
Collocations
- hanker for
- hanker after
- hanker for a taste
Idioms & expressions
- have an itch for
Example sentences
- "During the cold winter months, I often hanker for a warm tropical vacation." Casual desire
- "Even after moving to the city, he continued to hanker after the peaceful solitude of mountain life." Lifestyle change
Memory hook
HANKER = You HANG around the kitchen anchor because you hanker for food. Hanker = Hang around wanting something.
When not to use
Avoid in extremely formal academic essays; it carries a slightly rustic or colloquial flavor.
Fun facts
- The noun form 'hankering' is actually much more common in contemporary English than the verb itself.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.