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Definition of yawn

yawn

/jɔːn/
yawn

Adverb:yawningly
•
Plural:yawns
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Adjective:yawning
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Past Simple:yawned
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Past Participle:yawned
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Present Participle:yawning
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yawn Lexical Profile

yawn Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An involuntary reflex act of opening the mouth wide and inhaling deeply, usually triggered by fatigue, drowsiness, or boredom.

Example

"He tried to hide a massive yawn as the professor droned on about 18th-century tax laws."


2

A boring or excessively tedious event, person, or thing (Informal).

Example

"Despite the massive marketing budget, the highly anticipated blockbuster turned out to be a complete yawn."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for yawn

• verb

1

To involuntarily open one's mouth wide and inhale deeply, typically due to fatigue, boredom, or witnessing another person do the same.

Example

"The toddler began to yawn and rub her eyes, signaling it was time for a nap."


2

To open wide, presenting an immense and potentially daunting empty space (especially of a chasm, cavern, or gap).

Example

"The dark entrance to the ancient cave seemed to yawn before the nervous explorers."

• Rhymes for yawn

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'yanen', derived from Old English 'geonian' or 'gānian', meaning 'to gape or open wide', of Germanic origin. It shares roots with the Old High German 'ginēn'.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Yawn. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/yawn
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