desire to excel

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "desire to excel" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a strong motivation or ambition to achieve high standards or perform exceptionally well in a particular area. Example: "Her desire to excel in her studies drove her to spend countless hours in the library."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

'Abd al-Latif refused to work with the first for the senselessness of his teaching and found the latter excellent, but dominated by the desire to excel and to lend his services to men in command and of prominence.

SEP

She gave me the greatest gift a mother can give – the desire to excel.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Fightin in Philly" is a lacerating account of how desire to excel in the ring drains a man for life outside it.

The New York Times - Books

After a neat bit of observation about our self-defeating desire to excel in eye tests, the host introduces Katherine Jenkins and mentalist Colin Cloud.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I have a craven teacher-pleasing tendency: a deference to authority and a desire to excel within parameters established by others rather than to challenge those parameters.

The Guardian - Books

If, as she wrote, "it is the desire to excel which makes men love the world," then our love for the world actually makes it harder for us to love the people who inhabit it.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Her daughter, she said, was an "innocent, intelligent girl who strongly desired to study, to excel and become a professional in life".

The New York Times

"The motivation is huge; to see the passion and desire of the players to excel has inspired me to want to do the same". Sankhare began his professional career at Paris St Germain and spent a decade at the capital club.

BBC

So it was a difficult environment, but I did not think of my rise in the company, my drive to excel, my desire to be competent, as being in any way gender-driven.

HuffPost

Rather, for Shang Yang "teaching" means simply the people's internalization of the fact that the only way to satisfy their desires for riches and glory is to excel in war.

SEP

The mentor must believe that the student has the inherent ability and desire not only to accomplish the task but also to excel.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "desire to excel", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific area or field in which the individual or group is striving for excellence. For example, "Her desire to excel in mathematics motivated her to study diligently."

Common error

Avoid solely attributing success to the "desire to excel" without acknowledging external factors or support systems. Acknowledge the role of resources, mentorship, and opportunities in facilitating achievement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "desire to excel" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a strong inclination or motivation to achieve high standards or perform exceptionally well. As Ludwig AI shows, it often indicates the driving force behind someone's actions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

24%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "desire to excel" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a strong motivation to achieve high standards. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts. While alternatives such as "aspiration for excellence" or "drive for outstanding performance" exist, "desire to excel" effectively conveys ambition. When using the phrase, consider specifying the area of intended excellence and acknowledging external factors that contribute to success.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aspiration for excellence

Replaces "desire" with "aspiration" and "excel" with "excellence", shifting the focus to a long-term goal.

ambition to achieve greatness

Substitutes "desire" with "ambition" and "excel" with "achieve greatness", emphasizing a grander objective.

drive for outstanding performance

Replaces "desire" with "drive" and reframes "excel" as "outstanding performance", highlighting the energy and effort involved.

motivation to reach the top

Changes "desire" to "motivation" and uses the idiom "reach the top" to convey high achievement.

striving for superior results

Emphasizes the effort involved in achieving high-quality outcomes, replacing "desire" with "striving" and "excel" with "superior results".

yearning for mastery

Uses "yearning" to convey a deep longing and focuses on achieving expertise in a particular field.

passion for distinction

Highlights the emotional investment and desire to stand out from the crowd.

zeal for surpassing expectations

Emphasizes enthusiasm and exceeding anticipated levels of performance.

aim to outperform

Focuses on surpassing others in terms of performance, adding a competitive element.

urge to be the best

Highlights the internal pressure and ambition to achieve top ranking.

FAQs

How can I use "desire to excel" in a sentence?

You can use "desire to excel" to describe someone's strong motivation to achieve high standards. For example: "His desire to excel academically drove him to study hard."

What are some alternatives to "desire to excel"?

Alternatives include "aspiration for excellence", "ambition to achieve greatness", or "drive for outstanding performance".

Is it better to say "desire to excel" or "motivation to excel"?

"Desire to excel" and "motivation to excel" are similar. "Desire" emphasizes a strong feeling, while "motivation" focuses on the driving force behind action. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Can "desire to excel" lead to negative outcomes?

While generally positive, an excessive "desire to excel" can lead to burnout, stress, or unethical behavior if not balanced with well-being and ethical considerations.