eager for years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "eager for years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a long-standing desire or anticipation for something over a period of years. Example: "She had been eager for years to travel to Europe and finally booked her trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

City leaders here have been eager for years to see the minimum-security prison shuttered and its valuable land made into a revenue-generating business park, helping to complete the city's transformation from rural town to wealthy commercial hub.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

So in that sense, I feel eager for the years to tick by so I can proudly say, "I'm a 5 year survivor".

Huffington Post

I, too, am eager for grandchildren: 58 years old, with two grown daughters and with grandbaby lust so startling it can take my breath away.

The New York Times

And even as he girds for war, Mr. Cuomo, the state attorney general and an expert practitioner of political hardball, also plans to lavish attention on individual legislators, who he says are sick of being demonized and eager for accomplishment after years of gridlock and enmity.

The New York Times

Many of these future Chinese leaders were among the hundreds of thousands of students who crowded into universities beginning in the late 1970s, eager for knowledge after years of rote-learning Mao Zedong Thought during the Cultural Revolution, when colleges were mostly shut or paralyzed by ideological campaigns.

The New York Times

Ms. Rosenstein said the union was eager for a five-year contract, rather than the three-year one proposed by management, because the workers wanted to make sure that any job security clause did not expire until after construction was completed.

The New York Times

Bieber fans eager for the 18-year-old's new material also got their wish.

Huffington Post

After all, millions had bought the gutter press for years, an eager audience for the tawdry morality play of celebrities snorting coke, pedophile schoolteachers, aristocrats shamed.

The New York Times

For years, crowds eager to enter the nexus of American democracy have had to wait in long lines snaking around the building's scrubby gardens.

The Economist

For years, students eager to flex their wit and find their voices had been using the paper to lambast and smear whomever and whatever irked them.

The New York Times

PAGE B12 ESCAPES CRUNCH TIME For Timeshares For years, people eager to find a cheaper alternative to buying a vacation home have chosen timeshares as a guaranteed way to have a place in a desirable resort.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eager for years" to emphasize a sustained and enthusiastic anticipation over a considerable period. It suggests a long-held desire or eagerness that has not diminished with time.

Common error

Avoid using "eager for years" in the same paragraph or section with other phrases containing 'eager'. This can create redundancy and weaken the impact of your writing. Instead, vary your language by using synonyms or rephrasing to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "eager for years" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a state of prolonged anticipation or desire. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability, illustrating a sustained emotion over time.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Unknown

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "eager for years" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes a long-standing sense of anticipation or desire. As Ludwig indicates, its primary function is to emphasize the duration of a particular emotion, and it is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While examples are relatively rare, the phrase is versatile and can be adapted for both formal and informal writing. Alternatives like "longed for years" or "anticipated for years" may offer nuanced variations for different expressive needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

longed for years

Emphasizes a deep yearning or persistent desire over a significant period.

yearned for years

Similar to 'longed', but often implies a more sentimental or emotional longing.

anticipated for years

Focuses on the expectation and excitement leading up to an event or outcome.

awaited for years

Implies a patient or expectant waiting over a considerable duration.

desired for years

Highlights the strong wish or craving that has persisted over time.

sought for years

Indicates a continuous effort to find or achieve something over an extended period.

pursued for years

Suggests an active chasing or striving after something, maintained for many years.

craved for years

Emphasizes an intense desire or longing, often for something essential or deeply satisfying.

looked forward to for years

Highlights the positive anticipation and pleasure associated with a future event, extending over many years.

had a long-standing desire for

Focuses on the duration and persistence of the desire.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "eager for years" in a sentence?

Use "eager for years" to describe a long-standing anticipation or desire. For instance, "She had been "eager for years" to travel the world."

What are some alternatives to "eager for years"?

You can use alternatives like "longed for years", "yearned for years", or "anticipated for years" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "eager for years" a formal or informal expression?

"Eager for years" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly found in news and media. Its versatility makes it appropriate for various writing styles.

What's the difference between "eager for years" and "looking forward to it"?

"Eager for years" describes a desire that has persisted over a long period, while "looking forward to it" typically refers to a more immediate or upcoming event. The former emphasizes the duration of the anticipation.