arouse a desire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "arouse a desire" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of stimulating or provoking a strong feeling or longing for something. Example: "The advertisement was designed to arouse a desire for the latest smartphone among consumers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But, being closely connected with the court and aristocracy, they tended to pursue worldly wealth and riches at the expense of purely religious goals, and it was left to the Pure Land (Jōdo) sect of Buddhism to preach a religion that sought to arouse a desire for salvation in ordinary people.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The name 'Touch Design' spontaneously conjures up the movement of a hand reaching out towards an object whose shapes and texture are sympathetic…and arouse a desire for physical contact," says Renault in a book called Touch Design.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

One writer of the time, B J Hurwood, wrote, "Perhaps it was the cold climate which originally aroused in Englishmen a desire for whipping.

Vice

Harry Frankfurt seems to make this effect a requirement for something to count as coercive, saying "A coercive threat arouses in its victim a desire — i.e. to avoid the penalty — so powerful that it will move him to perform the required action whether he wants to perform it or considers that it would be reasonable for him to do so" (Frankfurt 1988 [1973], 78).

SEP

I think there was a desire to respond to the emotions aroused by the Fourniret case.

EU Parlament

While a test subject might be aroused by, say, descriptions of violent, non-consensual sex, that doesn't mean they necessarily have a desire to act on such impulses in real life.

Vice

This word, with its obvious etymology, simply means "of or pertaining to sexual love; amatory, esp tending to arouse sexual desire or excitement" (Shorter Oxford Dictionary).

The Guardian - Books

The "Webster's New World College Dictionary" defines sexy as "arousing or tending to arouse sexual desire or interest".

Huffington Post

There you are, wiling away another dull day on earth, flicking between three tabs and repressing a desire to nip for another cigarette, praying that something, anything, is going to arouse your interest for even a second or two.

Vice

Avoid watching pornographic movies; they will arouse your desire for sex.

WikiHow

1. Hard times arouse an instinctive desire for authenticity.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "arouse a desire", consider the intensity of the feeling you wish to convey. Alternatives like "spark an interest" might be more suitable for milder forms of wanting.

Common error

Avoid using "arouse a desire" in contexts where a simple interest or curiosity is intended. It can sound overly dramatic or intense if the situation doesn't warrant such a strong feeling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "arouse a desire" functions as a verb phrase, where "arouse" is the transitive verb and "a desire" is the direct object. Ludwig's examples show it being used to describe the action of stimulating or provoking a feeling.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "arouse a desire" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of stimulating a strong feeling of wanting. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s usable in written English. While relatively rare in occurrence, the phrase appears in various contexts such as encyclopedias and news media. When using it, consider the intensity you wish to convey and ensure it aligns with the context. Alternatives like "spark an interest" or "kindle a longing" may be more appropriate for milder situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instill a craving

Replaces "arouse" with "instill" and "desire" with "craving", suggesting a deeper, more intense longing.

kindle a longing

Replaces "arouse" with "kindle" and "desire" with "longing", evoking a sense of gentle encouragement of a heartfelt wish.

spark an interest

Substitutes "arouse a desire" with "spark an interest", focusing on initiating curiosity rather than a strong want.

awaken a yearning

Replaces "arouse" with "awaken" and "desire" with "yearning", implying a deep, emotional want that was previously dormant.

stimulate a passion

Replaces "arouse" with "stimulate" and "desire" with "passion", focusing on sparking intense emotion and enthusiasm.

foster an appetite

Substitutes "arouse a desire" with "foster an appetite", suggesting gradual development and nurturing of a liking for something.

cultivate an aspiration

Substitutes "arouse a desire" with "cultivate an aspiration", emphasizing a more considered and carefully developed ambition.

generate enthusiasm

Changes the phrase to focus on creating positive excitement rather than a specific want or need.

trigger an urge

Replaces "arouse" with "trigger" and "desire" with "urge", suggesting an impulsive and less controlled feeling.

encourage a wish

Replaces "arouse" with "encourage" and "desire" with "wish", suggesting a mild incentive and want.

FAQs

How can I use "arouse a desire" in a sentence?

You can use "arouse a desire" when you want to express the act of stimulating or provoking a strong feeling or longing for something. For instance, "The advertisement was designed to arouse a desire for the latest smartphone among consumers".

What are some alternatives to "arouse a desire"?

You can use alternatives like "spark an interest", "kindle a longing", or "foster an appetite" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "arouse a desire" or "evoke a desire"?

Both "arouse a desire" and "evoke a desire" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "Arouse" implies a stronger, more active stimulation, while "evoke" suggests bringing something to mind or feeling.

What's the difference between "arouse a desire" and "create a desire"?

"Arouse a desire" suggests that the desire already exists in some form and is being awakened or stimulated. "Create a desire", on the other hand, implies that the desire did not exist before and is being brought into being.