a profound longing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a profound longing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a deep and intense desire or yearning for something or someone. Example: "After years of separation, she felt a profound longing for her childhood home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In 1891 he attacked the British press for presenting Iranian protesters against the Shah as Islamic fanatics when, in fact, they articulated a profound longing for reform.

The Guardian - Opinion

She reads Martin Buber's stories of the Baal Shem Tov and feels a profound longing for the ancestral home she's never seen, the villages of Ukraine where she imagines Judaism to have been practiced with a fervency, purity and spiritual power absent in the Austria of her present-day life.

The New York Times - Books

Bad behavior is often driven by deep-seated insecurity, self-loathing, fear, and/or a profound longing to be loved.

HuffPost

It describes a deeply emotional state of nostalgia, a profound longing for something or someone absent, and a melancholic awareness of the transience of nature.

Vice

They were granted Mauritian citizenship, but the sad conditions, lack of jobs and discrimination they faced from locals — who taunted them as savages and mocked their accents — contributed to a profound longing for their homeland.

Los Angeles Times

Jones' biracial, brilliant daughter and Iqbal's rebellious sons form close friendships and blossom in different strengths, but their paths to adulthood are strewn with pitfalls -- like a profound longing for acceptance that any young person, and any immigrant, can likely relate to.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

And I think it's a profound existential longing that we all share now and that we have to confront.

The Guardian - Music

Where orthodox painting is an art of controlled space and micro-managed gesture, the work of the individualists tends to be spare and airy, like that of their formal model, Ni Zan (1306-74), an earlier political refusenik who used barely-there images of nature and astringent brushwork to express a profound retrospective longing.

The New York Times - Arts

From the vantage point of the disenchanted twenty-first century, it's strange to hear monogamy described as "Paradise" ("One girl for my dreams, / One partner in Paradise, / This promise of Paradise — / This nearly was mine"), but when the words billow up under the wave of profound longing in Rodgers's waltz you believe them.

The New Yorker

The relationships that people have with the celebrities who inhabit their imagination express profound longings, and help to fulfil them too.

The Guardian - Opinion

If you see only the bad in religion, then you miss all the biggest questions, the most profound longings, the deepest fears and the greatest aspirations that define us.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a profound longing" to express a deep, often unfulfilled, desire for something or someone, adding emotional weight to your writing. For instance, "She felt "a profound longing" for her homeland after years of living abroad."

Common error

Avoid using "a profound longing" for trivial desires; reserve it for situations where the yearning is truly deep and significant. Overusing it can diminish its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a profound longing" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject complement in a sentence. It describes a state of intense yearning or desire, adding emotional depth to the context. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a profound longing" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to express a deep and intense yearning. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various writing contexts, although it appears most frequently in News & Media. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context warrants such a strong emotional expression. Consider alternatives like "a deep yearning" or "an intense desire" depending on the desired nuance. Remember to reserve it for situations where the yearning is truly significant to avoid diminishing its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a deep yearning

Replaces "profound longing" with simpler synonyms, focusing on the depth of the feeling.

an intense desire

Substitutes "longing" with "desire", emphasizing the strength of the feeling.

a heartfelt yearning

Replaces "profound" with "heartfelt", highlighting the emotional nature of the longing.

a powerful craving

Uses "craving" to convey a strong and urgent sense of need.

a strong yearning

Similar to "a deep yearning", but uses "strong" to describe the feeling.

an overwhelming desire

Emphasizes the intensity of the desire, suggesting it's difficult to control.

a desperate need

Highlights the urgency and intensity of the need or desire.

a consuming passion

Implies a longing that dominates one's thoughts and actions.

an aching void

Uses metaphorical language to describe the feeling of something missing.

a soul-stirring yearning

Emphasizes the profound impact of the yearning on one's soul.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a profound longing" in a sentence?

Use "a profound longing" to describe a deep and intense yearning for something, often something unattainable or lost. For example, "The old photograph evoked "a profound longing" for her youth."

What are some alternatives to using "a profound longing"?

You can use alternatives like "a deep yearning", "an intense desire", or "a heartfelt yearning" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a profound longing" in formal writing?

Yes, "a profound longing" is suitable for formal writing, as it is grammatically correct and conveys a strong emotional depth. However, ensure the context warrants such an intense expression.

What distinguishes "a profound longing" from a simple desire?

"A profound longing" suggests a deeper, more emotional and often more persistent yearning than a simple desire. It implies a significant emotional investment and a sense of incompleteness without the object of the longing.