intense longing for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intense longing for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong desire or yearning for something or someone. Example: "She felt an intense longing for her childhood home as she walked through the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Still, one can well appreciate how various factors contributed to the passion of the attackers: rampant hostility toward the "infidel," the long history of anti-Jewish teaching in the Catholic Church, an intense longing for the end of days that nourished the crusading spirit, and the code of vengeance that medieval knights generally followed.

University of Pennsylvania

Kids are left with this intense longing for identification".

The New Yorker

To people's intense longing for their 15 minutes, maybe.

The New York Times

That can create an intense longing for what those outside Gaza see as mundane, or ordinary.

The New York Times

To me, it also suggested the emptiness of grief, when your own animating force or engine feels missing — or is replaced by another's through your intense longing for that person.

The New York Times

Living in an age when most things are both digital and disposable creates an even more intense longing for physical objects that speak to you and will remain in your life.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Humans are a social species, with intense longings for friends, communities, family and spouses, consummated by face-to-face contact.

MIT Technology Review

Sometimes your most intense longings for food happen right when you're at your weakest emotional points.

Huffington Post

The possibility of a happily ever after — whether in Germany or in the kingdom of faith — seems slim, but the intense longing of both women for a situation in which their love for each other might thrive gives this film its suspense and its devastating power.

The New York Times

They spoke with intense longing of the new freedoms that gays were experiencing in the West.

The New Yorker

Long after we've passed into adulthood, after we have gotten our careers underway, perhaps begun families, taken on adult financial and other responsibilities, we remain driven by a version of adolescent love -- variations of the same themes -- possessiveness, intense longing, chronic desire for newness and excitement, and fear of loss of identity if you "lose" the other.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "intense longing for", ensure the object of the longing is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "intense longing for home" rather than simply "intense longing".

Common error

Avoid using "intense longing for" in contexts where a milder desire is more appropriate. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intense longing for" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It expresses a strong feeling of yearning or desire towards a specific thing or person. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intense longing for" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that effectively conveys a strong feeling of yearning or desire. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, media, and academic writing. While alternatives exist, such as "deep yearning for" or "strong desire for", the original phrase remains a powerful option for expressing profound emotional longing. While not exceedingly common, it's a well-understood and accepted expression in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deep yearning for

Replaces "intense longing" with "deep yearning", emphasizing the depth of the feeling.

strong desire for

Substitutes "longing" with "desire", focusing on the wanting aspect.

passionate yearning for

Adds "passionate" to intensify the yearning, highlighting emotional involvement.

fervent longing for

Replaces "intense" with "fervent", suggesting a zealous and enthusiastic desire.

ardent desire for

Uses "ardent" instead of "intense", indicating a burning or passionate desire.

profound yearning for

Emphasizes the depth and significance of the yearning.

consuming desire for

Highlights how the desire takes over one's thoughts and actions.

aching longing for

Implies a painful or sorrowful longing.

intense yearning towards

Slightly alters the structure by using "towards" instead of "for", indicating a direction of the yearning.

deep-seated craving for

Indicates the longing is ingrained or deeply rooted in one's being.

FAQs

How can I use "intense longing for" in a sentence?

You can use "intense longing for" to describe a powerful yearning. For example: "She felt an intense longing for her family during her travels."

What's a less dramatic alternative to "intense longing for"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like /s/strong+desire+for, /s/deep+yearning+for or /s/great+desire+for to express a similar sentiment with less intensity.

Is it grammatically correct to say "intense longing after" instead of "intense longing for"?

While "longing after" is grammatically correct, "intense longing for" is the more common and widely accepted phrasing. "Longing after" might sound archaic or less natural in modern English.

What's the difference between "intense longing for" and "nostalgia for"?

"Intense longing for" describes a strong yearning for something, while /s/nostalgia+for specifically refers to a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past.