a craving for

USAGE SUMMARY

"a craving for" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a strong desire or longing for something. Example: Jane had a craving for chocolate ice cream, so she stopped at the store on her way home to satisfy it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Huh?" "A craving for dragon burgers?

The New Yorker

It's a craving for activity, involvement, purpose".

The New York Times

Anxiety brings a craving for calming carbohydrates.

The New York Times - Travel

Maybe it's a craving for love.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Perhaps even a craving for pasta, cheese and tomato sauce?

Stanford University

Still, he added, there is a craving for normalcy.

The New York Times

This isn't exhibitionism but a craving for authenticity and connection.

The New York Times - Magazine

You mock this impulse as a "craving for control".

The Guardian - Opinion

"In our busy world, I see a craving for this".

The Guardian - Travel

The result is hunger and a craving for more carbohydrates.

The New York Times - Magazine

The blackmailing was impelled solely by a craving for amusement.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a craving for" to describe a strong desire, often sudden and difficult to control, for something specific like food, experiences, or even abstract concepts. For example, "After a long day, I had a craving for pizza."

Common error

While both express desire, "a craving for" implies a more intense, often impulsive want, whereas "a need for" suggests something essential or necessary. Don't use them interchangeably if you want to convey the specific intensity of a craving.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a craving for" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a strong desire or urge. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Academia

9%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Science

13%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a craving for" is a very common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to express a strong desire or longing. According to Ludwig AI, it is widely used across various contexts. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media and Academic sources, indicating its suitability for both neutral and formal writing. While "a craving for" and "a need for" both express desire, it's important to remember that "a craving for" emphasizes a more intense, often impulsive want. Consider using alternatives like "a strong desire for" or "a yearning for" to fine-tune your expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a strong desire for

Replaces "craving" with "strong desire", emphasizing the intensity of the want.

a yearning for

Substitutes "craving" with "yearning", suggesting a deep longing.

a longing for

Replaces "craving" with "longing", indicating a heartfelt wish.

a strong need for

Emphasizes the necessity of the desired object rather than just wanting it.

an intense desire for

Uses "intense desire" to highlight the strong emotional pull.

a hunger for

Employs "hunger" as a metaphor for a strong appetite or need.

a thirst for

Uses "thirst" as a metaphor for a strong desire, implying a need for something essential.

a strong appetite for

Replaces "craving" with "strong appetite", suggesting a keen enthusiasm.

a passion for

Substitutes "craving" with "passion", indicating intense enthusiasm or interest.

an inclination towards

Expresses a preference rather than a strong desire.

FAQs

How can I use "a craving for" in a sentence?

Use "a craving for" to express a strong desire or urge for something. For example: "She had "a craving for chocolate"" or "He felt "a craving for adventure"".

What's the difference between "a craving for" and "a need for"?

"A craving for" suggests a strong desire, often impulsive, while "a need for" implies something essential or necessary. For example, you might have "a craving for sweets", but you have "a need for water".

What can I say instead of "a craving for"?

You can use alternatives like "a strong desire for", "a yearning for", or "a longing for" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I have a crave for" instead of "I have a craving for"?

No, the correct expression is "I have a craving for". "Crave" can be used as a verb (e.g., "I crave chocolate"), but when using a noun, "craving" is the appropriate form.