desire for someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "desire for someone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a longing or wish for someone's presence, affection, or companionship. Example: "Her desire for someone to share her life with grew stronger as the years went by."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

More skewed surely is the desire for someone, anyone to win the award – just so long as they are a Spaniard.

The Guardian - Sport

The decision reflected Mr. Bush's desire for someone who was adroit in Washington ways and could help him in the White House.

The New York Times

We do not dismiss this desire for someone who they feel does not talk down to them and would come to the White House free of any connection to Mr. Clinton's excesses.

The New York Times

It guarantees that consumers can zero in on their particular need or preference and have no necessity or desire for someone to tell them what they should or should not watch.

The Guardian

Is an armed rebel also a threat to civilians, or are loyalists the only target?Spectator-in-chief?Many Americans are no less queasy about Mr Obama's desire for someone else—France's president, Britain's prime minister, NATO, the league of Arab dictators, whoever to take charge, even though everyone knows the whole enterprise leans in the end on American power.

The Economist

For Mr. Trump, the decision to put Mr. Kelly in charge at the White House reflected a deep desire for someone who can project the kind of strength and decisiveness that the president never saw during the six months that Mr. Priebus occupied the corner office down the hall from the Oval Office.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

My fervent desire is for someone at Twitter to realize that the metadata storage that sits alongside each tweet would be a great place to put usernames as well.

TechCrunch

Mr. Fiske paints a different picture of Ms. Brooks as a cunning woman motivated by her compensation -- Sotheby's stock options -- and her desire for fame, someone who ruled Sotheby's "with an iron hand".

The New York Times

Furthermore, even a painful desire for what someone else possesses might be better described as longing than envy.

SEP

While there is a chance Jackson would turn down a Lakers offer, Bryant's supposed desire to play for someone else is the major reason Jackson is not expected to return.

The New York Times - Sports

It is my desire to be for someone else what these extraordinary beacons of light in my community were for me.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "desire for someone", ensure the context clarifies whether it refers to a romantic, platonic, or professional relationship to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid overusing "desire for someone" in casual contexts where a simple preference or liking would suffice. "Desire" implies a strong emotional pull and using it lightly can dilute its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "desire for someone" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically acting as a complement to a verb or noun. It indicates a strong feeling of wanting or longing for a particular person. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "desire for someone" is a grammatically correct and usable expression signifying a strong longing or wish for another person's presence or affection. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides various examples from reputable sources. While not overly common, it finds usage in news, academic, and scientific contexts, reflecting a neutral to formal register. When writing, consider whether the intensity of "desire" accurately reflects the intended meaning, and explore alternatives such as "yearning for someone" or "longing for someone" to fine-tune the emotional impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yearning for someone

Replaces "desire" with "yearning", emphasizing a deep and persistent longing.

longing for someone

Substitutes "desire" with "longing", suggesting a tender and wistful feeling.

craving for someone

Uses "craving" instead of "desire", indicating a strong and urgent need.

need for someone

Replaces "desire" with "need", focusing on the necessity of having someone in one's life.

wish for someone

Substitutes "desire" with "wish", implying a hope or aspiration for a person.

hope for someone

Uses "hope" instead of "desire", suggesting a positive expectation of finding someone.

want for someone

Replaces "desire" with "want", expressing a basic need or wish for a person.

intention to find someone

Shifts the focus to the active intent of seeking a person.

aspiration to connect with someone

Replaces "desire" with "aspiration", focusing on the ambition to form a relationship.

motivation to meet someone

Changes "desire" to "motivation", emphasizing the driving force to encounter a new person.

FAQs

How can I use "desire for someone" in a sentence?

You can use "desire for someone" to express a longing or strong wish to be with a particular person. For example: "Her "desire for someone" to share her life with grew stronger each year."

What are some alternatives to "desire for someone"?

Alternatives include "yearning for someone", "longing for someone", or "craving for someone", each conveying a slightly different nuance of longing.

Is it grammatically correct to say "desire for someone"?

Yes, "desire for someone" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express a strong feeling of wanting a person in one's life.

What's the difference between "desire for someone" and "need for someone"?

"Desire for someone" implies a strong wish or longing, while "need for someone" suggests a more fundamental requirement or dependency on that person.