desperately yearning

USAGE SUMMARY

"desperately yearning" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used in various contexts to describe a strong feeling of longing or desire. Example: She gazed out the window, desperately yearning for her lost love to return.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The cumulative effect is a surreal intensity, not of this world or of any other but of painting as the only home of a gifted, proud, desperately yearning spirit.

The New Yorker

The rich live at the expense of the poor in the Pakistan of this first novel, whose hero mocks the vulgarity and decadence of the top crust while desperately yearning to join it.

The New York Times - Books

The collective presentation allows interested audiences to trace the arc of the life of the central character, who begins here as a desperately yearning 11-year-old named Rachel in "Scarcity," and who, by the end of the cycle, has matured into a 33-year-old college professor and fiction writer of the same name in "Stay".

The New York Times

I'm desperately yearning for someone to understand.

Vice

I hope you're emotionally ready for this because it ain't going to be pretty and you will be left desperately yearning for the years of high-waisted suit pants and sleeveless denim vests.

Vice

One acts in a variety of ways: humanitarian aid, advocacy for human rights and sharing the story of the most vulnerable that are desperately yearning to know that the world cares.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

And that is something that, 30 years later, you desperately yearn for".

Independent

To others, it is a culture of scientific inefficiency, an I.B.M. mindset in a field that desperately yearns for Apple.

The New Yorker

FOR industry insiders (and those who desperately yearn to be), there is nothing quite like Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.

The New York Times

Beautiful and casually cruel, Eunice realises that Lenny can provide her with the love and safety for which she desperately yearns.

The Guardian - Books

"Suor Angelica" presents suicide as a longed-for step taken by a young nun who desperately yearns to be with her dead child.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "desperately yearning" to depict characters or situations marked by intense longing, especially when emotional stakes are high. This phrase effectively conveys a sense of urgency and deep desire.

Common error

Avoid using "desperately yearning" in contexts where the emotion is not particularly strong or intense. Using this phrase when a milder expression would suffice can make your writing sound melodramatic or insincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "desperately yearning" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by a participle, combining to express a state of intense longing. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and the examples show how it describes characters or situations driven by deep desire.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "desperately yearning" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express intense longing or desire. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts, where it effectively conveys strong emotions and highlights the urgency of a situation. While generally acceptable, it is crucial to avoid overuse and consider alternative phrases such as "intensely longing" or "earnestly craving" to ensure the writing remains balanced and sincere. Using "desperately yearning" effectively hinges on understanding the depth of emotion it conveys and applying it judiciously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intensely longing

Replaces "desperately" with "intensely", maintaining the sense of strong desire, but with a slightly different emphasis.

earnestly craving

Substitutes "yearning" with "craving" and "desperately" with "earnestly", focusing on a deep, sincere desire.

passionately desiring

Replaces "yearning" with "desiring" and "desperately" with "passionately", emphasizing a strong emotional drive.

fervently hoping

Shifts the focus to hope, implying a strong desire combined with anticipation.

aching for

Uses a more concise and direct expression to convey a strong feeling of longing.

longing intensely

Inverts the original structure, emphasizing the act of longing itself.

deeply desiring

Emphasizes the depth of the desire using "deeply" instead of desperately.

intensely craving

Combines "intensely" with "craving" to intensify the sense of longing.

desiring with all one's heart

Expresses the desire as a whole-hearted endeavor.

yearning with desperation

Reorders the words to emphasize the yearning and adds desperation as a modifier.

FAQs

How can I use "desperately yearning" in a sentence?

You can use "desperately yearning" to describe a character's intense longing or desire for something, as in "She was "desperately yearning" for his return".

What's a good alternative to "desperately yearning"?

Alternatives to "desperately yearning" include phrases like "intensely longing", "earnestly craving", or "passionately desiring", which offer similar shades of meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "desperately yearning"?

Yes, "desperately yearning" is grammatically correct. "Desperately" is an adverb modifying the participle "yearning".

What feeling does "desperately yearning" convey?

"Desperately yearning" conveys a strong feeling of longing, desire, or craving, often associated with a sense of urgency or need.