longing for

USAGE SUMMARY

"longing for" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are expressing a strong desire or wish for something. For example, "He spent his days dreaming and longing for a better life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Longing for retribution is longing for retribution.

The Economist

A longing for more.

The New York Times

— Increased longing for community.

The New York Times

Readers are left longing for a sequel.

The Economist

"Wow," I said, longing for a photo.

The New York Times

— revealed their desperate longing for freedom.

The New York Times

I have a longing for community.

Independent

"So, too, does the longing for reconciliation".

The New York Times

I understood what they were longing for.

The New York Times

Ms. Madden saw a longing for stability.

The New York Times

The longing for a goal seemed unendurable.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "longing for" to express a deep and often emotional desire. It's particularly effective when describing a yearning for something lost or unattainable.

Common error

While "longing for" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it excessively in formal or business writing. Consider more neutral alternatives like "desiring" or "seeking" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

Longing for functions as a prepositional phrase that describes a state of strong desire or yearning. It typically connects a subject with an object of desire. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct, as demonstrated in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "longing for" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase for expressing a strong desire or yearning. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most commonly found in News & Media sources. While versatile, it's best to avoid overuse in strictly formal settings. For variety, consider alternatives such as ""yearning for"" or "craving for".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yearning for

This alternative is a direct synonym, emphasizing a deep and tender feeling of desire.

craving for

This alternative suggests a strong, almost uncontrollable desire.

desiring

This alternative replaces the preposition 'for' with a gerund, creating a slightly more formal tone.

pining for

This alternative evokes a sense of wistful sadness and persistent yearning.

aching for

This alternative conveys a sense of deep emotional pain caused by absence or desire.

hungry for

This alternative implies a strong need or appetite, often used metaphorically.

have a yen for

This alternative indicates a sudden or whimsical desire.

wishing for

This alternative is more general and expresses a simple desire for something.

hankering after

This alternative is informal and expresses a strong desire or craving.

in need of

This alternative expresses the necessity for something.

FAQs

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

"Longing for" is used to express a strong desire or yearning. For example, "She was "yearning for" /s/yearning+for her childhood home" or "He spent his days dreaming and "desiring" a better life.

What can I say instead of "longing for"?

You can use alternatives like ""yearning for"", "craving for", or "desiring depending on the context.

Which is correct, "longing for" or "longing to"?

"Longing for" is used with nouns or gerunds (e.g., "longing for home", "longing for traveling"), while "longing to" is used with verbs (e.g., "longing to travel"). Both are correct but have different grammatical structures.

What's the difference between "longing for" and "wishing for"?

"Longing for" implies a deeper, more emotional desire than "wishing for". "Wishing for" is often used for simple or easily attainable desires, while "longing for" suggests something more profound or difficult to achieve.