desperately waiting for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'desperately waiting for' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to show that someone is extremely eager and impatient to receive something. For example: "She was desperately waiting for her turn to try out for the cheerleading squad."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The country is desperately waiting for it to act.

The New York Times

"We're all desperately waiting for EUV to be ready, but there are alternatives," she said.

MIT Technology Review

I think I was like that in the village, desperately waiting for things to happen".

The Guardian - Books

I became really worried, desperately waiting for the police and rescue to arrive.

The Guardian

Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor in 1964 "My blind eyes are desperately waiting for the sight of you.

Independent

She said of the redevelopment plans, "We have been desperately waiting for something to come of this.

The New York Times

It is unfair to the 1.6 million people desperately waiting for homes, unable to get on with their lives.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Even as these three continue to play, observers desperately wait for a new generation, prepared to overtake them.

The New Yorker

And as I desperately wait for the wifi to work so I can turn Gloucestershire into Worcestershire in the previous post, Lancs lose another, in the same over, almost identically: Jones for a duck.

The Guardian - Sport

I can't think of a project that we are doing or have done (during which we do not) get to a key point and everybody says 'We're going to know so much more next week or the week after.' And so the focus shifts to next week or the week after and we all desperately wait for that period.

Forbes

Can you imagine the distress of receiving a life-saving organ that you have desperately waited for only to have it later rejected by your own body?

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and the overall tone of your writing. While "desperately waiting for" is widely understood, it can sometimes sound overly dramatic in formal contexts. Choose synonyms such as "eagerly awaiting" when the situation demands more restrained language.

Common error

Avoid using "desperately waiting for" too frequently in your writing. Overuse can diminish its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "anxiously awaiting" or "eagerly anticipating" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "desperately waiting for" functions as a verbal phrase expressing a state of intense anticipation. Ludwig shows its widespread use to describe situations where someone is experiencing heightened eagerness or anxiety while awaiting an event or outcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "desperately waiting for" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey a strong sense of anticipation, urgency, and often anxiety while awaiting something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for general use, although more formal contexts may benefit from considering less emotionally charged synonyms such as "eagerly awaiting". Its prevalence in news and media sources highlights its effectiveness in describing situations where intense anticipation is a key element. While widely accepted, writers should avoid overuse and consider the specific tone and audience when incorporating this phrase into their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anxiously awaiting

Focuses more on the anxiety aspect of waiting, rather than the desperation.

eagerly anticipating

Emphasizes a positive expectation and enthusiasm about what is to come.

impatiently waiting for

Highlights the lack of patience while waiting, suggesting a desire for something to happen sooner.

keenly expecting

Indicates a strong interest and expectation for something.

longing for

Expresses a deep desire and yearning for something or someone.

yearning for

Similar to longing for, but often implies a more emotional or sentimental desire.

counting down the days until

Illustrates the act of tracking the time left until a specific event, expressing strong anticipation.

in eager expectation of

A more formal way of expressing anticipation, often used in writing.

with bated breath

Implies holding one's breath due to excitement or anxiety while waiting.

on tenterhooks

Suggests a state of nervous anticipation or suspense.

FAQs

How can I use "desperately waiting for" in a sentence?

You can use "desperately waiting for" to express a strong feeling of anticipation or eagerness. For example, "The fans were "desperately waiting for" the concert to begin."

What are some alternatives to "desperately waiting for"?

Alternatives include "eagerly anticipating", "anxiously awaiting", or "impatiently waiting for", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "desperately waiting for" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "desperately waiting for" might be too informal or emotionally charged for certain formal contexts. Consider using more restrained alternatives like "keenly expecting" or "eagerly awaiting" in such situations.

What's the difference between "eagerly waiting for" and "desperately waiting for"?

"Eagerly waiting for" implies a positive anticipation and excitement, while "desperately waiting for" suggests a stronger sense of urgency, anxiety, or need. The latter conveys a more intense emotional state than the former.