humble desire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "humble desire" is grammatically correct and is commonly used in written English.
It is often used to describe a modest or unassuming wish or request. Example: "With a humble desire for a better future, the charity organization worked tirelessly to provide aid to those in need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

What does win us over — for a good while, anyway — is the performers' humble desire to entertain.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Many times a day I too have humble little desires, so individual and uncomplicated, to be next to you and to kiss your little cheeks.

HuffPost

Steiner said that the way Buss has split the Lakers into family shares is consistent with his humble roots and desire to make things better for his family.

Los Angeles Times

Aiming at continuous delivery, efficient build, test and deployment automation is strongly desired (Humble and Farley [2010]).

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

Elliott's desire to humble the City is madness.

The Guardian - Opinion

We were humbled by Jason's desire to do the things he said he was going to do and since then our friendship has grown.

The Guardian - Music

Rapturous crowds, a reverential White House welcome, a trumpet fanfare, TV networks hanging on his every word: the United States isn't merciful with his desire to be humble.

The Guardian

The Vatican's statement went on to say that Francis "expressed the desire that this humble recognition of the failings of that period, which unfortunately disfigured the face of the church, may contribute to a 'purification of memory' and may promote, in hope and renewed trust, a future of peace".

Huffington Post

The ad content this year left much to be desired (in my humble opinion), though there were some highlights, like an appearance by some faces familiar to the tech industry, thanks to Best Buy's spotlighting of a few mobile innovators, among them Philippe Kahn, Ray Kurzweil, Instagram Founder Kevin Systrom, and the guys behind Shazam, and Words With Friends, and so on.

TechCrunch

"I have found Ben to be consistently caring, always sympathetic, refreshingly humble and driven by a constant desire to please others".

The New York Times

Some contend that what they term as Mrs. Gutfreund's 'unbecoming flamboyance' was derived from a desire to compensate for humble origins, driving her to 'try too hard'.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for authenticity and connection, use "humble desire" to portray characters or initiatives driven by genuine, unselfish motives.

Common error

Avoid using "humble desire" excessively in formal reports or business proposals. While the phrase conveys sincerity, overuse can undermine the authority and confidence you want to project in professional settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "humble desire" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "humble" modifies the noun "desire". This construction creates a description of a specific type of desire: one that is modest, unassuming, and free from arrogance. Ludwig confirms its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "humble desire" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that describes a modest and unpretentious wish or aspiration. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and its examples illustrate its usage across various contexts, including news media, academia, and literature. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, it conveys sincerity and lacks arrogance, making it a good choice when aiming to express genuine intent. Related phrases include "modest aspiration", "simple wish", and "unassuming ambition". When using this phrase, consider avoiding overuse in strictly formal business contexts to maintain authority and avoid undermining confidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

modest aspiration

Emphasizes the limited or moderate nature of the goal.

unassuming ambition

Highlights the lack of arrogance or pretension in the ambition.

simple wish

Focuses on the straightforward and uncomplicated nature of the wish.

lowly longing

Indicates a desire originating from a position of humility or insignificance.

meek craving

Suggests a gentle and submissive form of desire.

unpretentious yearning

Highlights the sincerity and lack of artifice in the yearning.

earthy ambition

It means ambitions with a practical nature, which is a bit different than original QUERY but still keeps the overall meaning.

subdued passion

Highlights a muted or controlled intensity of passion.

reserved longing

It focuses on the longing that is kept private and not flaunted.

quiet ambition

Implies an ambition pursued without fanfare or boasting.

FAQs

How can I use "humble desire" in a sentence?

You can use "humble desire" to describe someone's modest wish or unassuming request, such as "Driven by a "humble desire" to help others, she volunteered at the local soup kitchen".

What phrases are similar to "humble desire"?

Similar phrases include "modest aspiration", "simple wish", or "unassuming ambition", which all convey a sense of modesty and lack of pretension.

Is "humble desire" grammatically correct?

Yes, "humble desire" is grammatically correct. "Humble" is an adjective modifying the noun "desire", forming a standard adjective-noun phrase.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "humble desire"?

The phrase "humble desire" is appropriate when describing a wish or goal that is modest, unpretentious, and driven by genuine intent rather than ego or ambition. It fits well in literary, reflective, and persuasive contexts.