Yawned: meaning, definitions and examples

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yawned

 

[ jɔn ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

physical reaction

Yawning is the act of opening one's mouth wide and inhaling deeply, often accompanied by a stretching of the jaw. This involuntary action typically occurs when a person is tired, bored, or transitioning between different levels of alertness. While yawning is commonly associated with drowsiness, it can also be triggered by observing someone else yawn, a phenomenon known as contagious yawning. The biological purpose of yawning is believed to be related to brain cooling and increasing alertness, although research on its exact mechanisms continues.

Synonyms

gape, open mouth, stretch

Examples of usage

  • She yawned during the lecture.
  • After a long workday, he yawned and decided to go to bed.
  • Yawning is contagious; after she yawned, everyone in the room followed.
  • He tried to suppress a yawn while talking to her.
  • The cat yawned widely in the sun.

Translations

Translations of the word "yawned" in other languages:

🇵🇹 bocejou

🇮🇳 जवाब दिया

🇩🇪 gähnte

🇮🇩 menguap

🇺🇦 позіхнув

🇵🇱 ziewnął

🇯🇵 あくびをした

🇫🇷 bâilla

🇪🇸 bostezó

🇹🇷 esnedi

🇰🇷 하품했다

🇸🇦 تثاءب

🇨🇿 zívnul

🇸🇰 zívnul

🇨🇳 打哈欠了

🇸🇮 zazehal

🇮🇸 gápandi

🇰🇿 құлақ қақты

🇬🇪 გაუთავისუფლა

🇦🇿 yawn etdi

🇲🇽 bostezó

Etymology

The word 'yawn' originates from the Old English 'ganian', which means to open the mouth wide. Its roots can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic *gahnō, and similar words can be found in other Germanic languages, such as Old Norse 'gána' and German 'gähnen'. The action of yawning is universally recognized across cultures, likely due to its inherent biological nature. Historically, yawning has been associated with various interpretations, from a sign of fatigue to a mechanism for increasing oxygen intake or cooling the brain. There are also cultural associations where yawning is linked to boredom or indifference, thus reflecting social cues beyond its biological functions.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,575, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.