I desired to grasp

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I desired to grasp" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a wish or intention to understand or comprehend something more fully. Example: "In my studies, I desired to grasp the complex theories that underpin quantum mechanics."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"God desires to grasp you by the hand and help you up tonight," Father Valenti told Ms. Roskot's coaches, friends and family yesterday.

The New York Times

"I want to grasp things with the mind the way the penis is grasped by the vagina".

The Guardian - Arts

But it is possible both to desire the bad (to desire what I desire not to desire) and to have bad desires (to have desires which I desire to desire not to desire).

SEP

Lawrence on Cézanne is good reading - he sees the tensions in Cézanne between bourgeois 19th-century convention and an insatiable, frustrated desire to grasp fully the physical world.

The Guardian - Arts

Agent-based simulations are increasingly popular in exploring and understanding cellular systems, but the natural complexity of these systems and the desire to grasp different modelling levels demand cost-effective simulation strategies and tools.

Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modelling

Powers showed a desire to grasp the experimental basis of scientific theories, a mode of thinking that many would-be researchers don't develop until grad school, Flurkey says, adding, "So it seemed to me he was built to be a scientist right from the beginning".

Science Magazine

Whether the desire to grasp more truth about the real than science can supply is a noble aspiration or a dangerous delusion is at the heart of the debate about entitlement to faith on this supra-rational fideist doxastic venture model.

SEP

This coding decision inevitably involves a trade-off between the desire to grasp the full complexity of policy realities by operationalizing a multitude of nuanced codes, and the need for analytically useful, parsimonious categories by operationalizing a limited number of codes that capture the policy's core elements.

Comparative Migration Studies

Successful candidates will have an interest in becoming a leader in commerce, a desire to grasp both business practices and the principles of problem solving used by designers and creative individuals, strong writing and communication skills, the ability to work in teams and collaborate with individuals from multiple fields, and enthusiasm for multidisciplinary study and research.

Johns Hopkins University

Driven by the desire to grasp it, to know it.

Vice

"Little Men" is about many things: youthful solidarity, metropolitan hardships and parents' strained desire to grasp their kids' happiness.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "understand", "comprehend", or "apprehend" for a more contemporary writing style. While grammatically correct, "grasp" in this context can sound somewhat archaic.

Common error

Avoid using "I desired to grasp" in informal contexts. It's generally more appropriate for academic, philosophical, or historical writing. In everyday conversation, opt for simpler phrases like "I wanted to understand".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I desired to grasp" functions as an expression of intention or wish, specifically indicating a strong inclination toward understanding or comprehending something. Given Ludwig's assessment, it's grammatically correct but not frequently used in modern English.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I desired to grasp" is grammatically correct, yet its usage is infrequent in contemporary English. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical soundness, though it carries a somewhat formal and literary tone. Alternative phrases like "I wanted to understand" or "I wished to comprehend" may be more suitable in modern contexts. While the phrase effectively conveys a strong intention to understand, consider the intended audience and context to ensure the chosen expression aligns with the desired tone and register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I aimed to fully understand

Replaces "desired to grasp" with "aimed to fully understand", focusing on the intention and completeness of understanding.

It was my goal to fully grasp

Highlights the goal-oriented nature of the desire by using "It was my goal" and retains "fully grasp" for emphasis.

I had a strong wish to understand

Emphasizes the strength of the desire by using "strong wish" and replaces "grasp" with "understand".

I wished to comprehend

Replaces "desired" with "wished" and "grasp" with "comprehend", softening the tone while maintaining the core meaning.

I aspired to comprehend fully

Uses "aspired" instead of "desired" and "comprehend fully" in place of "grasp", highlighting ambition and thoroughness.

My intention was to comprehend

Focuses on the intention by using "My intention was" and replaces "grasp" with "comprehend".

I yearned to understand

Substitutes "desired" with "yearned" and "grasp" with "understand", intensifying the feeling of wanting to know.

I sought to apprehend

Replaces "desired" with "sought" and "grasp" with "apprehend", creating a more formal and intellectual tone.

I had a longing to fathom

Uses "longing" instead of "desire" and "fathom" in place of "grasp", emphasizing a deep desire to understand something complex.

I wanted to get a handle on

Replaces "desired to grasp" with the idiomatic expression "wanted to get a handle on", making it more informal.

FAQs

How can I use "I desired to grasp" in a sentence?

You can use "I desired to grasp" to express a strong wish to understand something, typically something complex or abstract. For example, "In my youth, "I desired to grasp" the mysteries of the universe".

What are some alternatives to "I desired to grasp"?

Some alternatives include "I wished to comprehend", "I wanted to understand", or "I sought to apprehend", depending on the level of formality and intensity you want to convey.

Which is more common, "I desired to grasp" or "I wanted to understand"?

"I wanted to understand" is far more common in contemporary English. "I desired to grasp" is grammatically correct, but sounds more formal and somewhat archaic.

What's the difference in nuance between "I desired to grasp" and "I tried to grasp"?

"I desired to grasp" expresses a wish or longing to understand, while "I tried to grasp" indicates an attempt to understand, regardless of whether the attempt was successful. The first focuses on the desire, the second on the effort.