yawning

UK: /ˈjɔːnɪŋ/ US: (yô′ning)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

yawn•ing  (yô′ning), adj. 

1. being or standing wide open;
   gaping:
   the yawning mouth of a cave.
2. indicating by yawns one's weariness or indifference:
   The lecturer was oblivious to his yawning audience.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English geniendum. See yawn, -ing²

yawn′ing•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

yawn /yɔn/   v. 

1. Physiology [no object] to open the mouth, usually involuntarily, and breathe in deeply, sometimes with a sighing sound and a large breath out, often caused by drowsiness or boredom.
2. to say with a yawn:
   [used with quotations] "I think I'll go to bed,'' he yawned.
3. to extend or stretch wide, as an open and deep space:
   [no object] saw the gap between the mountains yawning wide before him.

n. [countable]

4. an act or instance of yawning:
   couldn't stifle her yawn.
5. Informal Terms Also called yawner. something so boring as to make one yawn.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

yawn (yôn),  v.i. 

1. Physiology to open the mouth somewhat involuntarily with a prolonged, deep inhalation and sighing or heavy exhalation, as from drowsiness or boredom.
2. to open wide like a mouth.
3. to extend or stretch wide, as an open and deep space.

v.t. 

4. to say with a yawn.
5. [Archaic.] to open wide, or lay open, as if by yawning.

n. 

6. an act or instance of yawning.
7. an opening;
   open space;
   chasm.
8. Informal Terms Also, yawner. something so boring as to make one yawn:
   Critics say the new fashions are one big yawn.

• bef. 900; Middle English yanen, yonen (verb, verbal), alteration of yenen, Old English ge(o)nian; akin to Old English gānian, ginan, Old Norse gīna, German gähnen, Latin hiāre (see hiatus), Greek chaínein to gape (see chasm)

Synonyms

• 1. –3. gape.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

yawn / jɔːn/ verb

1. (intransitive) to open the mouth wide and take in air deeply, often as in involuntary reaction to tiredness, sleepiness, or boredom
2. (transitive) to express or utter while yawning
3. (intransitive) to be open wide as if threatening to engulf (someone or something): the mine shaft yawned below

noun

1. the act or an instance of yawning

Etymology: Old English gionian; related to Old Saxon ginōn, Old High German ginēn to yawn, Old Norse gjā gap

ˈyawner noun

ˈyawning adjective

ˈyawningly adverb