full of longing

USAGE SUMMARY

"full of longing" is a perfectly valid and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express the emotion of longing someone has at a particular time or moment. For example, "John stood outside the gates of his old home, full of longing for the life he had once known."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

It's blues: long and full of longing.

The New York Times

He was confused, despairing, full of longing for his homeland.

Stanford University

She's a mess of emotions, full of longing about the life she knows she can't have.

The Guardian - Books

The book is full of longing – for escape, experience and recognition – as well as paralysing inhibition and vaunting ambition.

The Guardian - Books

Her descriptions of this ancient landscape are full of longing for something new that is also something lost: "Yellow water.

The New York Times - Books

He was an enigma, a man looking for a home, producing writing that was cryptic and full of longing.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Her life thenceforth could only be full of sodade, longing, the theme of her most famous song:Sodade, sodade Sodade dess nha terra…There were plenty of other "husbands", more than she could count, she said; three gave her children, but all of them just came and went, like the sea.

The Economist

Yet while the banality undercuts the element of the sublime, this artist's work is full of a sense of longing for what's been lost.

The Guardian - Arts

They are delayed kisses, full of both longing and the promise of longing fulfilled, delightfully slow-building -- as close to tantric sex as 40's movies get.

The New York Times

The Andromeda, a sudden pang of longing.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Your grave sense of longing could hinder his own sense of longing.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "full of longing" to describe a state of intense desire or yearning, often for something unattainable or lost. It is suitable for conveying deep emotional states in both creative and descriptive writing.

Common error

Avoid using "full of longing" in highly formal or technical writing. While grammatically correct, it carries a strong emotional connotation that may be inappropriate for objective or analytical content.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "full of longing" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of being characterized by intense desire or yearning. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

17%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "full of longing" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adjectival phrase that effectively conveys a strong sense of desire or yearning. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it is widely accepted in written English and suitable for describing deep emotional states. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to informal contexts. Be mindful of overuse in highly formal writing. Alternatives like "yearning for" or "pining for" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

longing for

This phrase uses the verb form of "longing" to express a strong desire.

filled with yearning

This alternative uses a different adjective to describe the state of longing.

consumed by longing

This indicates that the person is overwhelmed by their feelings of longing.

with a sense of yearning

Emphasizes the feeling associated with missing something.

yearning for

This phrase emphasizes the intense desire or craving for something or someone.

aching for

This phrase implies a deep emotional pain or discomfort due to the longing.

pining for

This phrase suggests a more wistful and melancholic form of longing.

desiring intensely

This emphasizes the strength and passion behind the longing.

having a strong desire

This provides a more general and less emotionally charged way to express longing.

nostalgic for

Suggests a longing specifically for something from the past.

FAQs

How can I use "full of longing" in a sentence?

You can use "full of longing" to describe someone's emotional state, for example: "She gazed at the photograph, her eyes "full of longing" for her lost love."

What are some alternatives to "full of longing"?

Some alternatives include "yearning for", "pining for", or "aching for", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "full of longing"?

Yes, "full of longing" is grammatically correct and widely used in both written and spoken English to express a feeling of intense desire or yearning.

What is the difference between "full of longing" and "nostalgic for"?

"Full of longing" describes a general state of yearning, while "nostalgic for" specifically refers to a longing for something from the past.