Yawning is mostly involuntary, meaning you don't have control over it. And most scientists consider it a reflex. However, you can make yourself yawn by breathing in gradually while retracting the tip of your tongue and opening your jaw repetitively. In addition, seeing other people yawning often triggers one.

Theory #3: Contagious Yawning Is Linked to Empathy Skills When people see or hear other people yawn, they tend to yawn themselves. Even reading or thinking about yawning can prompt a yawn. The contagiousness of yawning suggests it may be an empathetic response that helps humans and other mammals communicate.

She yawned, and stretched lazily. They looked bored and yawned at the speeches. Rosanna stifled a huge yawn. The debate was a mockery.

(yɔn ) Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense yawns, present participle yawning, past tense, past participle yawned. intransitive verb. If you yawn, you open your mouth very wide and breathe in more air than usual, often when you are tired or when you are not interested in something.