1. To long for someone or something: This is the most common meaning. It implies a deep yearning or longing for something or someone that is unavailable or out of reach.
* Example: "She was pining for her lost love."
2. To waste away or decline: This meaning is often associated with physical decline, sometimes due to sadness or grief.
* Example: "He was pining away after his wife died."
3. To have a longing or craving: This meaning can also apply to physical desires, like a craving for a specific food.
* Example: "I'm pining for a slice of pizza."
4. To be in a state of longing or yearning: This meaning focuses on the emotional state of longing, often with a melancholic undertone.
* Example: "He was pining for a life he could never have."
In general, "pining" suggests a deep, often melancholic longing or desire for something that is unattainable.