longing for home

USAGE SUMMARY

"longing for home" is a perfectly acceptable sentence (or phrase) in written English.
You can use it any time when you want to express that someone is feeling homesick or missing home. For example: "The soldier could not help the feeling of longing for home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"The small things matter," he said of his mother and other elders longing for home.

The New York Times

"Aunty Ella Making Schnitzel and Pauly Eating Artichokes" is a poignant drawing of a child longing for home.

The New York Times - Arts

Sodade is the morna's key emotional basis, Cape Verdean Creole for the Portuguese saudade, or nostalgia and longing – for home, often, because Cape Verdeans are great departers.

Independent

In 1965, Ms. Djebar, chafing under the constraints of the new government, went to live in Paris, but in 1974, longing for home, she returned.

The New York Times - Books

Its folky fingerpicking, and a melody with a bluesy turn, carry words about longing for home while feeling lost, displaced and uncertain: "One day I know I'll feel strong again," he tells himself.

The New York Times - Arts

'World peace?'" The title Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant captures the dichotomy on which her fiction rests: nearly all the characters are homesick in some way – either longing for home, or completely sick of it.

The Guardian - Books

Her poetry evokes longing for home, a place to call home, and is often nostalgic for memories not her own, but for those of her parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, people who forged her idea of her ancestral homeland through their own stories.

The New Yorker

He told me of his time in the trenches, of being gassed, of the horror and the fear, of the beast and the hero that war brings out in men, of the cold and the mud, of the camaraderie, of longing for home, for it all to be over.

The Guardian

"I am always hungry for the road and the adventures and yet there is always a sense of longing for home and loved ones, just before and as I leave," she said.

BBC

Struggling to eke out an existence and longing for home, some refugees have made attempts to return.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Only one study documented patients' experience of longing for home-based care in a hospital setting [ 56].

BMC Palliative Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "longing for home" to convey a deep emotional yearning for a place of comfort, security, and belonging, especially when someone is displaced or far away.

Common error

Avoid using "longing for home" in trivial contexts. It implies a profound sense of yearning, so ensure the situation warrants such a strong expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "longing for home" functions primarily as a noun phrase describing a feeling or state of mind. It represents a deep emotional desire to return to a place of comfort and belonging. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

17%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "longing for home" effectively conveys a deep emotional desire to return to a place of comfort and belonging. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, from News & Media to personal narratives. While suitable for both formal and informal writing, its emotional intensity should be considered. Synonyms like "homesickness" and "yearning for one's homeland" offer alternative ways to express this sentiment, each with slightly different nuances. Remember to use it appropriately, recognizing its implication of profound yearning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

homesickness

A single word encapsulating the feeling of missing home.

feeling homesick

Directly states the emotional state of missing home.

missing home

A simpler and more direct way to express the feeling of "longing for home".

wanting to return home

Expresses a simple desire to go back to one's home.

yearning for one's homeland

Emphasizes a deep, emotional desire for the place of one's birth or ancestry.

having a yearning for one's native land

Highlights the emotional connection with the land where someone comes from.

pining for home

Suggests a more wistful and melancholic "longing for home".

craving the comforts of home

Emphasizes the physical and emotional comforts associated with home.

desire for familiar surroundings

Focuses on the comfort and security associated with a known environment.

nostalgia for one's roots

Highlights a sentimental connection to one's origins and past.

FAQs

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

You can use "longing for home" to describe a strong desire to return to one's home, as in "The traveler felt a deep longing for home after months abroad".

What are some synonyms for "longing for home"?

Alternatives include "homesickness", "missing home", or "yearning for one's homeland", each carrying slightly different emotional weight.

Is "longing for home" a formal or informal expression?

"Longing for home" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though its emotional depth makes it more common in narrative or personal writing.

What's the difference between "longing for home" and "desire for familiar surroundings"?

"Longing for home" evokes a deeper emotional connection, while "desire for familiar surroundings" focuses more on the comfort and security of a known environment.