craves

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "craves" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong desire or longing for something, often in a more intense or passionate way. Example: "After a long day at work, she craves a quiet evening with a good book and a cup of tea."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Britain's largest airport group craves a third runway at Heathrow airport but that is highly unlikely, so every noise it makes on the need for more capacity plays into the hands of Boris Johnson's estuary airport campaign.

The Guardian - Business

But there is another part that craves an outlet for hissing and booing, even outside the pantomime season.

The Guardian - Film

Against a snowy London backdrop, something perennially ignored and unloved finds the attention it craves against all odds.

The Guardian - Business

"The word is that Farage has offered him a peerage if it all works out, and this, even more than money and the respect of London's Jewish community, is what he craves now".

The Guardian

The consequences for Britain's hoary political system, if unable to bring about the stable government the country craves, were predicted to be grave; and they may yet be.

The Economist

After its turbulent experiments with deregulation, however, America craves stability from its all-too-excitable telecoms companies.

The Economist

Resolutions founder, because the self who decides to quit drinking or start a diet in the new year is not the self who must act on that resolution when the day arrives.Mr Schelling's own intimate contest is with smoking; he is torn between a self who craves nicotine and a self who wants to be free of it.

The Economist

But, India craves recognition as a great power.

The Economist

Although Kazakhstan is clearly not the ideal candidate for this role, Mr Nazarbayev craves the international recognition it would bestow.

The Economist

Many senior Iraqi officers already hail the deal as the first step on the path to replacing Iraqi civilian rule with Iraqi military rule, which is more likely, they argue, to bring about the stability which America craves.

The Economist

A notable gap between the parties would have given her both leverage in Westminster and, when that fell short, an excuse for the second independence referendum that she craves but that few Scots currently do (witness the noisy booing from the audience when she refused to rule it out in the second televised Scottish leaders' debate two weeks ago).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "craves" to emphasize a powerful or urgent desire, especially when describing abstract concepts or emotional needs, rather than simple preferences.

Common error

Avoid using "craves" when a simpler word like "wants" or "needs" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound overly dramatic or unnatural in everyday situations.

Linguistic Context

The word "craves" functions primarily as a transitive verb. As Ludwig AI confirms, it expresses a strong desire or longing for something. Examples show it used to describe what a person, entity, or even a country strongly desires.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "craves" is a versatile transitive verb used to express a strong and intense desire. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It appears most frequently in news and business contexts, reflecting its use in describing both tangible and intangible longings. While the word is considered correct, be mindful of overusing it in simple contexts where more common alternatives might be more appropriate. Remember to use "craves" to emphasize a powerful or urgent desire, and explore synonyms like "yearns for", "desires intensely", and "longs for" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yearns for

Emphasizes a deep longing or persistent desire.

desires intensely

Highlights the strength and passion of the want.

longs for

Suggests a wistful or sentimental yearning.

is hungry for

Conveys a strong need, often metaphorical, similar to physical hunger.

thirsts for

Implies a deep and urgent need, often used for abstract concepts like knowledge or power.

has a strong desire for

A more formal way to express a strong wish or need.

aspires to

Focuses on ambition and the goal of achieving something highly valued.

is eager for

Indicates enthusiasm and impatience in wanting something.

wishes for

Expresses a general desire, but can sometimes lack the intensity of "craves".

needs desperately

Emphasizes the urgency and critical nature of the need.

FAQs

How do I use "craves" in a sentence?

The word "craves" is a verb that means to have a strong desire for something. For example, "The athlete craves the challenge of the competition."

What can I say instead of "craves"?

You can use alternatives like "yearns for", "desires intensely", or "longs for" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "craves for"?

While it's common to say "yearns for" or "longs for", the word "craves" doesn't require the preposition "for". You would simply say "craves" followed by the object of desire. For example, "She craves attention", not "She craves for attention".

What's the difference between "craves" and "wants"?

"Craves" implies a much stronger and more intense desire than "wants". "Wants" suggests a simple preference, while "craves" suggests a deep, almost desperate need.