develop a love for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "develop a love for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a subject that someone may come to like or appreciate over time. For example, "Julie had never been interested in classical music until she started taking piano lessons and developed a love for it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Rather, they urged her to take classes and develop a love for the theatre, which she fostered in various high-school plays.

Independent

He said the seedlings would encourage community members especially the students to develop a love for the environment and begin agitating for its promotion and protection.

The Guardian

"If we don't even have a newspaper at this level, how are they going to develop a love for it?" said Joshua Sipkin, who advised an online newspaper, now defunct, at Information Technology High School in Queens.

The New York Times

I spent four days watching the Lakota Invitational from the bleachers, and I saw enough lob passes, breakaways, and uncontested layups to develop a love for the fast, loose, and improvisational offenses of rez ball.

The New Yorker

Just watching my grandchildren - they're city kids - develop a love for the farm, become more familiar with nature and seeing how important that is has been fantastic - I just wish more children could have that experience".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The advice from those in the know is start small and allow yourself to develop a love for the sport and an appreciation of the outdoors, building up your distance slowly.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

"It must have been a magnificent house, but it's so sadly unloved now," said Jane A. Gross, a New Yorker who is not an architect but developed a love for buildings from her father, Alfred Gross, a developer in Queens.

The New York Times

Ebb developed a love for the city's theatrical scene at a young age.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While in the Coast Guard he developed a love for fishing and the outdoors.

The New York Times

Alas, Yeltsin developed a love for vodka and the bourgeois game of tennis.

The New Yorker

He developed a love for literature and learned several Indian languages.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When encouraging someone to "develop a love for" something, provide opportunities for positive experiences and gradual exposure to the subject. For example, if you want a child to "develop a love for" reading, start with engaging and age-appropriate books.

Common error

Avoid using "develop a love for" when describing an immediate, fleeting interest. This phrase suggests a gradual and deepening affection, not a momentary infatuation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "develop a love for" functions as a verb phrase that expresses the gradual process of cultivating affection or passion for a particular subject, activity, or concept. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "develop a love for" is a versatile phrase used to describe the process of growing affection or passion. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability in various contexts, particularly in news, media, and informal writing. While suitable for expressing gradual affection, it's important to avoid overstating immediate interests. Related phrases like "cultivate an affection for" or "foster a passion for" can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cultivate an affection for

Emphasizes a deliberate effort to nurture positive feelings.

foster a passion for

Suggests a more intense and ardent feeling is being developed.

acquire a taste for

Indicates a gradual appreciation, often for something previously disliked.

grow to appreciate

Focuses on the increasing recognition of something's value.

become fond of

Implies a gentle and warm feeling is developing.

build a liking for

Highlights the gradual construction of a positive sentiment.

gain an enthusiasm for

Indicates an increasing excitement and zeal towards something.

nurture an interest in

Suggests careful and sustained attention is given to developing a positive sentiment.

develop a penchant for

Suggests a strong inclination or habitual attraction is being formed.

find pleasure in

Focuses on the discovery of enjoyment in something.

FAQs

How can I use "develop a love for" in a sentence?

You can use "develop a love for" to describe a process of gradually liking or becoming passionate about something. For example, "She started volunteering at the animal shelter and began to "develop a love for" animals."

What's the difference between "develop a love for" and "acquire a taste for"?

"Develop a love for" suggests a broader and deeper affection, while "acquire a taste for" often refers to something initially disliked but later appreciated, like certain foods or activities.

What are some alternatives to "develop a love for"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "cultivate an affection for", "foster a passion for", or "grow to appreciate".

Is it always necessary to use "develop a love for" in a positive context?

Yes, "develop a love for" is typically used in a positive context, implying a growing fondness or passion. It wouldn't be appropriate to use it to describe developing an affinity for something negative or harmful.