What does hankered mean?
Hankered means to have a strong or persistent desire for something. It is especially suited to wishes that feel deep, emotional, or nostalgic: someone may hankered for the language and customs of an ancestral homeland, for a particular dish, for the atmosphere of an old home, or simply for a return to a freer period of life. The word can also describe less personal ambitions, as when a person or organization hankered to travel, create, or expand. Unlike the relatively neutral word “wanted,” “hankered” often carries a suggestion of yearning, attachment, or being drawn toward something. The usual constructions are “hankered for” and “hankered after,” although the verb can also stand alone before an infinitive. Hankered is the past tense and past participle of “hanker,” and it appears in both British and American English. Its slightly evocative character makes it especially effective in literary, personal, and narrative contexts.
verb (past tense and past participle of hanker)To have a strong or persistent desire for something; to long or yearn for it.
- To have a strong, persistent, or nostalgic desire for something.
"After years abroad, she hankered for the smell of her mother's kitchen."
"As the train crossed the countryside, he hankered for the hills of his childhood."
"The company hankered to expand into international markets."
Hankered is what you do when a memory—or a midnight craving—pulls you backward.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hankered come from?
Hankered is the past tense and past participle of hanker, a verb attested in late 16th-century English. The word is associated with Dutch hankeren and with hank, an older word for a rope, coil, or attachment. Its modern sense centers on a powerful or persistent longing.
Related word forms
How hankered is actually used
Slightly literary or informal, though now widely understood. It often suggests an intense or lingering wish, especially for something familiar, appealing, or no longer readily available.