yawning

/ˈjɑnɪŋ/

/ˈjɔnɪŋ/

Other forms: yawningly; yawnings

Yawning is what happens when you reflexively open your mouth wide, inhale, and exhale again. Most yawning is caused by sleepiness or extreme boredom.

Use the word yawning for actual yawning — or to mean "wide open." A yawning chasm in the ground is a huge, wide gap, and a yawning hole in a movie's plot is the obvious space where some details are missing, making the resulting story seem unlikely and unbelievable. A yawning child, on the other hand, is probably just ready for her nap.

Definitions of yawning

1. noun

   an involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouth; usually triggered by fatigue or boredom
   “the yawning in the audience told him it was time to stop”

   synonyms: oscitance, oscitancy, yawn

   types:

   pandiculation

   yawning and stretching (as when first waking up)

   type of:

   inborn reflex, innate reflex, instinctive reflex, physiological reaction, reflex, reflex action, reflex response, unconditioned reflex

   an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus
2. adjective

   with the mouth wide open indicating boredom or sleepiness
   “a yawning congregation”

   synonyms:

   open, opened

   used of mouth or eyes
3. adjective

   showing lack of attention or boredom
   “the yawning congregation”

   synonyms: drowsy, oscitant

   inattentive

   showing a lack of attention or care
4. adjective

   gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or something
   “the yawning mine shaft”

   “a yawning abyss”

   synonyms:

   open

   affording free passage or access