Pronunciation: [pˈa͡ɪnɪŋ] (IPA) 
Pining, spelled /ˈpaɪnɪŋ/, is a verb that describes a deep feeling of longing or yearning for something or someone. The word consists of six letters, starting with the consonant "p" followed by the vowel "i" and the consonants "n" and "g". The "i" sound is represented by the IPA symbol /aɪ/, which sounds like the diphthong "eye". The final consonant sound is represented by the IPA symbol /ŋ/, which sounds like the "ng" sound in "sing".
Pining, as a verb, refers to a strong feeling of longing, yearning, or craving for something or someone that is absent, unattainable, or lost. This term often involves a deep and heartfelt desire or a sense of missing or lacking what once brought happiness or fulfillment. It implies a strong and persistent emotional attachment to a particular person, thing, or situation.
When someone is pining for another person, it suggests a strong romantic or emotional longing, typically due to physical separation, unrequited love, or a past relationship. This emotional state may manifest as daydreaming, melancholy, restlessness, or even physical distress. Pining for someone often entails fantasizing about being reunited and seeking solace in memories or thoughts of the absence.
Pining can also refer to a nostalgic yearning for an idealized past or a longing for a specific place or time. It involves a sense of unfulfillment in the present and a longing for circumstances to return to a previous state.
The term can apply to matters beyond human connections, such as pining for a lost opportunity, a cherished possession, or a desire to recreate a past experience. Overall, pining encapsulates a deep emotional longing and a wistful desire for what is no longer present, causing a profound sense of emptiness and longing for its return.
• Wasting away.
• A state of languishing or wasting away.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "pining" originated from the Old English word "pīnan", which means "to torment, torture, or cause distress". This Old English term is related to the Middle Low German word "pīnen", meaning "to torture" and the Dutch word "pijnen", which means "to torment". The word "pining" eventually evolved to refer to a state of longing, yearning, or intense desire, often experienced in the context of missing someone or something.
