had desired

USAGE SUMMARY

'had desired' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used when talking about something that was desired in the past. Example sentence: John had desired to be accepted by his peers since he was a young child.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They had desired her, and not been rejected.

The New Yorker

In 1986, Lauder became the Ambassador to Austria, a job he had desired.

The New Yorker

Last year, the law fell far short of the result its supporters had desired.

The New York Times

I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation".

The Guardian - Books

She had desired Monsieur Labatte greatly, but he no longer desired her.

The New Yorker

France had received the constitutional monarchy that it had desired in 1789.

Britannica

Paradoxically, Montgomery postponed the resumption of the offensive even longer than Auchinleck had desired.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His life also took a critical turn away from the Wall Street career that his father had desired for him.

The New York Times

If the management had only known such distinguished visitors had desired to stay at their humble hostelry..., the clerk droned.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Using (22 - 24 22 - 24ve desired result.

Mathematical Sciences

Repeat until you have desired length.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had desired" to clearly indicate that a wish or intention existed in the past before another event occurred. This helps establish a clear sequence of events for your reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had desired" when simply expressing a past desire without reference to another past event. Instead, use "desired" if there is no need to emphasize the prior occurrence of the desire.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had desired" functions as past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action (desiring) completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had desired" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate a past desire that predates another past event. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's prevalent in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science sources, functioning primarily to provide context and express past intentions. When using the phrase, ensure correct tense sequencing to avoid errors, and consider alternatives like "had wanted" or "had wished for" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had wanted

Direct synonym, emphasizing a wish or longing in the past.

had wished for

Highlights a yearning or hope that existed in the past.

had longed for

Emphasizes a deep and persistent desire over a period of time.

had craved

Implies a strong, almost uncontrollable desire in the past.

had yearned for

Similar to longed for, but with a stronger emotional connotation.

had aspired to

Suggests a goal or ambition that was pursued in the past.

had aimed for

Focuses on a specific target or objective that was desired.

had sought

Indicates an effort to obtain or achieve something desired.

had been eager for

Highlights the enthusiasm and anticipation associated with the past desire.

had set their sights on

Implies a focused and determined desire for something specific.

FAQs

How do you use "had desired" in a sentence?

"Had desired" is used to indicate a wish or intention that occurred before another event in the past. For example, "She "had desired" a career in medicine before she decided to become a teacher".

What are some alternatives to "had desired"?

You can use alternatives such as "had wanted", "had wished for", or "had longed for" to express a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "has desired" instead of "had desired"?

No, "has desired" indicates a desire that started in the past and continues to the present, while ""had desired"" refers to a desire completed in the past. They are used in different contexts.

What's the difference between "desired" and "had desired"?

"Desired" refers to a simple past desire, while ""had desired"" indicates a desire that occurred before another event in the past. The latter emphasizes the sequence of events.