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pine away

C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

to feel sad for a long time because you want someone or something

Literal meaning: to fade away like a pine tree drying out

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic neutral

to suffer emotionally over a long period because you miss someone or cannot have what you want

"He pined away after she moved to another country."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Literary or expressive in tone. Often used for love, loss, or emotional longing.

Commonly used with

for her for him after someone at home

Forms

Base
pine away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pines away
he/she/it
Past simple
pined away
yesterday
Past participle
pined away
have + pp
-ing form
pining away
continuous

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Synonyms

long yearn grieve waste away ache

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