has wanted to

USAGE SUMMARY

'has wanted to' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about a sustained desire for something in the past that has been ongoing until now. Example sentence: She has wanted to visit the Grand Canyon for as long as she can remember.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The world has wanted to invest.

The Economist

She has always done what she has wanted to, in the way she has wanted to.

The New Yorker

It's all he has wanted to prove.

The New York Times - Sports

So everyone has wanted to share the riches.

The Economist

All he really has wanted to do is play football.

The New York Times - Sports

If anything, she has wanted to get closer.

The New Yorker

No one has wanted to broach the debate.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Every single person has wanted to come over," she said.

The New York Times

That is what he has wanted to do all along.

The New York Times - Sports

Ms. Field has wanted to start trying for years.

The New York Times

He has wanted to leave for the last two years.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has wanted to" when describing a desire or intention that began in the past and continues to the present. For example, "She "has wanted to" travel to Europe since she was a child."

Common error

Avoid using "has wanted to" to describe a completed action in the past. Use "wanted to" instead. For example, instead of "He "has wanted to" go to the store yesterday", use "He wanted to go to the store yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has wanted to" functions as part of a verb phrase, indicating a continuing desire or intention that originated in the past and persists to the present. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Academia

12%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has wanted to" is a grammatically correct and very common way to express a continuing desire or intention that began in the past and extends to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the timeline of the desire and avoid using it for completed actions. Alternatives like "has desired to" or "has wished to" can add nuance, but "has wanted to" remains a versatile and widely understood expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has desired to

Replaces 'wanted' with a more formal synonym, 'desired', implying a strong feeling of wanting.

has wished to

Substitutes 'wanted' with 'wished', suggesting a longing or hope for something.

has longed to

Uses 'longed' instead of 'wanted', indicating a deep and persistent yearning.

has aimed to

Replaces 'wanted' with 'aimed', focusing on the intention to achieve a specific goal.

has intended to

Similar to 'aimed to', but emphasizes a planned or deliberate course of action.

has aspired to

Indicates a higher level of ambition or a striving for something significant.

has been eager to

Emphasizes enthusiasm and impatience in wanting something.

has sought to

Replaces 'wanted' with 'sought', implying a deliberate effort to obtain something.

has yearned to

Similar to 'longed to', but with an even stronger sense of emotional yearning.

has felt inclined to

Suggests a tendency or predisposition to want something, rather than a strong desire.

FAQs

How can I use "has wanted to" in a sentence?

Use "has wanted to" when describing a continuing desire that started in the past and persists to the present. For example, "He "has wanted to" learn to play the guitar since he was a teenager".

What are some alternatives to "has wanted to"?

You can use alternatives like "has desired to", "has wished to", or "has longed to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

The choice between "has wanted to" and "had wanted to" depends on the timeline. "Has wanted to" describes a desire that started in the past and continues to the present, while "had wanted to proceed" describes a desire that existed before a specific point in the past.

What's the difference between "has wanted to" and "wants to"?

"Has wanted to" implies a desire that began in the past and continues now, while "wants to" simply states a current desire without specifying when it began. For example, "She "has wanted to" be a doctor since she was little", emphasizes the duration of her ambition, whereas "She wants to be a doctor" only says she currently has that aspiration.