expressed yearning for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expressed yearning for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's feelings of longing or desire for something or someone. Example: "In her latest poem, she expressed yearning for the simplicity of her childhood days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The wave of demonstrations that broke out last week was set off not by any expressed yearning for freedom, they say, but by the end of fuel subsidies that threatened to bankrupt the country.

The New York Times

Though DuVernay has been working on this film for years, its footage of violence at Donald Trump rallies, linked to the candidate's publicly expressed yearning for "the good old days," brings its story chillingly up to date.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Simons, when leaving Dior, expressed a yearning for a better work-life balance.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But at the same time, many expressed a yearning for a different type of leader, someone less concerned with the traditional effort to promote consensus and harmony and more of an activist, someone more like Gov. Shintaro Ishihara of Tokyo.

The New York Times

Until 1863, Cope's letters to his father continually expressed his yearning for a more professional scientific career than that of a farmer, which he called "dreadfully boring".

Wikipedia

Jenner expressed her yearning for the natural phenomenon known as heat with an Instagram photo of herself in a floral bikini, appropriately captioned "TAKE ME BACK:".

Huffington Post

Many of them expressed their yearning for things to go back to how they were before the disaster.

Unicef

A kind of mandala, it expresses a yearning for wholeness and spiritual consummation that the Armory Show as a whole will never deliver.

The New York Times - Arts

When and where transitions take place, they will express a yearning for more assertiveness.

The Guardian - Opinion

His early, "alarmingly American" tableaux express a yearning for a world "beyond comfort and progress".

The New Yorker

Heidi never expresses a yearning for children, then suddenly shows up a blissed-out Madonna in the final scene.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "expressed yearning for", consider the specific nuance you want to convey. Yearning implies a deep, often sorrowful longing, so ensure it fits the context. For example, use it when describing a character's longing for home after a long journey.

Common error

Avoid using "expressed yearning for" in everyday situations where a simple desire or preference would suffice. Using it to describe wanting a cup of coffee, for instance, would be an overstatement and sound unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expressed yearning for" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the communication of a strong desire or longing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable. The verb "expressed" indicates the act of communication, while "yearning" specifies the nature of the feeling being conveyed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0.01%

Science

0.01%

Social Media

0.01%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expressed yearning for" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the communication of a deep longing or desire, often tinged with emotion. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase is valid. It's most commonly found in news and media, encyclopedias, and formal business contexts. While not overly formal, it's more appropriate for written communication than casual speech. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that "yearning" accurately reflects the intensity and emotional depth of the desire being described. Alternatives like "voiced a longing for" or "articulated a desire for" can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

voiced a longing for

Replaces "expressed" with "voiced" and "yearning" with "longing", emphasizing the verbal articulation of desire.

articulated a desire for

Substitutes "expressed" with "articulated" and "yearning" with "desire", highlighting a clear and deliberate communication of wanting something.

conveyed a deep longing for

Replaces "expressed" with "conveyed" and adds "deep" to intensify the feeling of longing, focusing on the communication of profound desire.

revealed a passion for

Changes "yearning" to "passion", shifting the emphasis to a more intense and enthusiastic desire.

showed a strong inclination toward

Replaces "yearning" with "strong inclination", making the desire sound more like a preference or tendency.

evinced a wistful desire for

Uses "evinced" for "expressed" and adds "wistful" to the desire, suggesting a melancholic or reflective longing.

disclosed an appetite for

Substitutes "yearning" with "appetite", implying a strong and natural desire, often physical or sensory.

professed a craving for

Replaces "yearning" with "craving", suggesting an intense and sometimes uncontrollable desire.

communicated a deep-seated wish for

Uses "communicated" for "expressed" and adds "deep-seated" to emphasize the enduring nature of the wish.

emitted a palpable longing for

Emphasizes the intensity and almost tangible nature of the longing, suggesting it's strongly felt and perceived.

FAQs

How can I use "expressed yearning for" in a sentence?

You can use "expressed yearning for" to describe someone communicating a deep longing or desire for something. For example: "The poem "expressed yearning for" simpler times."

What are some alternatives to "expressed yearning for"?

Alternatives include "voiced a longing for", "articulated a desire for", or "conveyed a deep longing for", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "expressed yearning for" too formal for everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "expressed yearning for" might sound somewhat formal for casual conversation. Simpler phrases like "really wanted" or "longed for" might be more appropriate in informal settings.

What's the difference between "expressed yearning for" and "expressed desire for"?

"Expressed desire for" indicates a general wanting, while "expressed yearning for" suggests a deeper, more emotional longing, often for something unattainable or lost. Yearning implies a sense of sorrow or wistfulness not present in simple desire.