longed for

USAGE SUMMARY

"longed for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express a strong feeling of desire for something. For example, "He had longed for a better life for years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I longed for help.

The New York Times

He longed for war.

The New Yorker

He longed for more.

The New Yorker

Ratmansky longed for this assignment.

The New Yorker

We longed for unruly.

The New York Times

Tucker longed for success.

The New York Times - Magazine

The Moth was everything I longed for.

The New York Times

"I longed for him".

The New York Times - Magazine

I longed for context and synthesis.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

It's his longed-for comfort zone.

The New York Times

Longed-for escapes never happen.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "longed for" to express a deep and often emotional yearning for something, whether it's a tangible object, an experience, or a relationship.

Common error

While "longed for" is appropriate in many situations, avoid overusing it in overly casual or informal writing. Simpler words like "wanted" or "wished for" may be more suitable in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "longed for" is as a verb phrase, specifically the past tense of 'long', indicating a strong desire or yearning that has been felt. As shown by Ludwig, the phrase is commonly used to describe a deep emotional want.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0.5%

Wiki

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "longed for" effectively communicates a deep and emotional yearning. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical function is primarily as a verb phrase in the past tense, used to express strong desires or yearnings that have been felt. Its frequency is "very common", especially in news and media contexts. While appropriate for formal use, it maintains a neutral register. For expressing similar sentiments, consider alternatives like "yearned for" or "desired intensely" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yearned for

Emphasizes a deep emotional yearning, often implying a sense of sadness or unfulfillment.

desired intensely

Highlights the strong level of desire and passion.

craved

Suggests a strong physiological or psychological need.

pined for

Implies a wistful or melancholic longing, often for something unattainable.

ached for

Emphasizes the painful or emotional aspect of longing.

hankered after

Suggests a persistent and somewhat playful longing.

had a strong desire for

A more explicit and less figurative way to express longing.

felt a deep yearning for

Draws attention to the emotional depth of the longing.

was eager for

Highlights enthusiasm and anticipation in the desire.

wished fervently for

Emphasizes the passionate and earnest nature of the wish.

FAQs

How can I use "longed for" in a sentence?

You can use "longed for" to describe a strong desire for something. For example, "She "longed for" the day she could travel the world."

What are some alternatives to "longed for"?

Alternatives include "yearned for", "desired intensely", or "craved", each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is there a difference between "longed for" and "wished for"?

"Longed for" implies a deeper, more emotional yearning compared to the simpler "wished for". The first conveys a strong sense of desire, while the second suggests a more casual hope.

Which is more appropriate, "longed for" or "looked forward to"?

"Longed for" is used for something desired with strong emotion, while "looked forward to" expresses anticipation and pleasure about a future event. They are appropriate in different contexts depending on the intensity of the feeling.