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Definition of hankering

hankering

/ˈhæŋ.kɚ.ɪŋ/
han · ker · ing
Plural:hankerings
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hankering Lexical Profile

hankering Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A strong, persistent, or restless desire or longing to have or do something, typically followed by 'for' or an infinitive.

Example

"After weeks of eating simple camp rations, she developed a sudden hankering for fresh fruit and warm bread."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for hankering

• Nearby Words

hanjiang
hank
hanker
hankering
hanky
hannover
hanoi

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived in the early 17th century from the verb 'hanker', which likely came from the Flemish or Dutch dialect word 'hankeren' (to long for), originally a frequentative form of 'hangen' (to hang or linger around expectantly).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hankering. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hankering
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