desperately looking forward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "desperately looking forward" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a strong eagerness or anticipation for something in the future. Example: "I am desperately looking forward to the concert next week; it’s going to be an unforgettable experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

What I'm desperately looking forward to is that people who watch it, who would see it, will do something about it.

Huffington Post

Pre-ordered this ages ago, desperately looking forward to playing it, wearing the Pip-Boy, and generally feeling like a stone-cold wasteland champion.

Vice

I'm desperately looking forward to the day where I can audition young, leggy men while discussing my expensive, luxury hybrid to a bunch of other powerful women.

Vice

Pre-ordered this ages ago, desperately looking forward to playing it, wearing the Pip-Boy and generally feeling like a stone-cold wasteland champion.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Our stolen child had been clearly raised with the love, care and diligence we had desperately been looking forward to.

Huffington Post

It's a humiliating (and given that the play credits him with a Nobel, hardly credible) turn of events, and he's looking forward desperately to the arrival of a new assistant to help him push forward with his book.

The New York Times

The next stage of course is for the new President, Vice President and leaders to come in and start to effect the change that we all so desperately need and are looking forward to.

Huffington Post

John Lewis' Christmas ad is out, and as usual it's lovely and mushy and makes foxes look cute and has got everyone looking forward to spending lots of money on John Lewis products and wanting desperately to adopt foxes as pets.

Vice

My friend also had never gone to summer camp and she had desperately wanted to have that experience as a child, and so was very much looking forward to this experience.

Huffington Post

"I was looking forward to helping my club and country because they both need me desperately.

BBC

"I've been looking forward to supporting my sister at her wedding for almost two years now, and desperately want to be there for her".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "desperately looking forward" when you want to emphasize a strong sense of eagerness and anticipation, especially in situations where the outcome is particularly important or desired.

Common error

Avoid using "desperately looking forward" in highly formal or professional settings, as the word "desperately" can sometimes sound overly emotional. Opt for alternatives like "greatly looking forward to" or "eagerly anticipating" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "desperately looking forward" is to act as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It describes the manner in which someone is anticipating an event or outcome. This phrase combines the adverb "desperately" with the verb phrase "looking forward" to intensify the feeling of anticipation. Ludwig AI validates this use.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "desperately looking forward" is a grammatically sound phrase used to convey a strong sense of eagerness and anticipation. While it is most commonly found in news and media contexts, its usage should be considered carefully in formal settings due to its potentially overly emotional tone. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness. Consider alternatives such as "eagerly anticipating" or "greatly looking forward to" for more formal communication. This analysis offers practical guidance on how and when to effectively use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Really looking forward to

Uses "really" as a less intense alternative to "desperately", conveying strong but not extreme anticipation.

Greatly looking forward to

Adds "greatly" to amplify the feeling of anticipation without the desperation.

Can't wait for

A more informal expression of strong anticipation, indicating impatience and excitement.

Eagerly anticipating

Replaces "desperately" with a less intense adverb, focusing on simple eagerness.

Highly anticipating

Replaces the verb phrase "looking forward" with the single verb "anticipating", modified by "highly" for emphasis.

Keenly anticipating

Uses "keenly" to highlight a strong interest and excitement about something to come.

Anxiously awaiting

Substitutes "desperately" with "anxiously", emphasizing a sense of worry or nervousness alongside anticipation.

Eager to experience

Shifts the focus to the experience itself rather than just looking forward to it, expressing excitement.

Longing for

Implies a strong desire and yearning for something, often something that is currently absent or unattainable.

Waiting with bated breath

Conveys a sense of heightened anticipation and excitement, often used when awaiting an important or suspenseful event.

FAQs

What does "desperately looking forward" mean?

It means to anticipate something with a strong sense of eagerness and urgency, often because the outcome is very important or desired.

What can I say instead of "desperately looking forward"?

You can use alternatives like "eagerly anticipating", "greatly looking forward to", or "anxiously awaiting" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "desperately looking forward" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "desperately looking forward" might sound too emotional for some formal contexts. Consider using a more neutral phrase like "keenly anticipating" or "highly anticipating" in such situations.

How does "desperately looking forward" differ from "looking forward to"?

Adding "desperately" intensifies the feeling of anticipation, suggesting a higher level of eagerness or perhaps even need. "Looking forward to" is a more general expression of anticipation, while "desperately looking forward" implies that the outcome is of great importance.