yen

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈyen

plural yen

Synonyms of yen

the basic monetary unit of Japan see Money Table

yen

2 of 3

noun (2)

: a strong desire or propensity

a yen for the sea

also : urge, craving

a yen for ice cream

yen

3 of 3

verb

yenned; yenning

intransitive verb

: to have an intense desire : long

Examples of yen in a Sentence

Noun (2) I have a strange yen to take the day off from work Verb what car lover doesn't yen for a new car at the start of every model year

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Now, Japan is finding out via news stories the ways in which Trump might rock Japan’s 2025 — from tariffs on autos to the weak yen to shaking down Tokyo for multibillion-dollar payments to maintain U.S. troop levels. —William Pesek, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 Following the rate decision, the Japanese yen was little moved, trading at 149.46 against the U.S. dollar. —Lim Hui Jie,anniek Bao, CNBC, 19 Mar. 2025 From 2013 to 2023, the global market for anime more than doubled to $22 billion (3.3 trillion yen), according to the Association of Japanese Animations. —Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2025 Stocks fell in Asia, reversing initial gains, while gold climbed to within $10 of its record peak and the safe-haven yen ticked up. —Kevin Buckland and Harry Robertson, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for yen

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Japanese en

Noun (2)

obsolete English argot yen-yen craving for opium, from Chin (Guangdong) yīn-yáhn, from yīn opium + yáhn craving

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1875, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1906, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of yen was in 1875

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

Yemen

yen

yender

See all Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Yen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yen. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

yen

1 of 2 noun

ˈyen

plural yen

1

: the basic unit of money of Japan

2

: a coin worth one yen

yen

2 of 2 noun

: an intense desire : longing

Last Updated: 27 Mar 2025 - Updated example sentences

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