hanker for
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to have a strong desire for something, especially something you cannot have right now or something from the past.
phrasal verb. to have a strong, persistent desire or yearning for something; typically used with abstract nouns or nostalgic objects.
He still hankers for the quiet life of the countryside.
After years of living abroad, she began to hanker for the familiar sights and sounds of her hometown.
The aging professor seemed to hanker for a bygone era of academic rigor that his students no longer valued.
usually followed by a noun or a gerund; 'hanker after' is a common alternative with the same meaning.
anchor this to the word 'hunger' to help students remember the sense of deep craving, though 'hanker' is more about emotional or nostalgic longing.
She is hankering to a new car.She is hankering for a new car.the verb 'hanker' requires the preposition 'for' or 'after', never 'to'.
Last updated April 24, 2026