longing to work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "longing to work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong desire or yearning to engage in work or a specific job. Example: "After months of being unemployed, I find myself longing to work and contribute to a team again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But according to some of those close to the mercurial Irish musician, there are relatively few he's been longing to work with.

Los Angeles Times

Expressing her desire for "a new kind of acting challenge", Zinta described Mehta as one director she was longing to work with in order to fulfill it.

Wikipedia

Although my group and I were able to successfully work as a team throughout the entirety of the course, I often caught myself longing to work on certain projects alone, especially the ones where we had the opportunity to choose the topic.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Now that their kids are getting older, most of my friends are longing to go back to work.

Forbes

With the sweet showers of April soon to arrive, piercing the drought of March as birds make melody, scientists are longing to make pilgrimages into the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, who wrote on technical subjects as well as penning "The Canterbury Tales".

The New York Times - Science

The pre-Christmas snow and consequent transport difficulties were spoken of as if everybody in Britain spent their entire time longing to get to work instead of welcoming an excuse to stay at home.

Independent

But I gaze at today's Olympian women, like the extraordinary Simone Biles, and I suddenly regret almost all my physical choices in life, longing to have worked out, toughened up, added muscle.

The Guardian - Opinion

The other problem was, of course, incompleteness: single acts and extracts of Wagner, when done this well, leave you longing to hear the whole work.

The Guardian - Music

Bored with banking and longing to return to America, he worked with an executive search firm that sent him to Bertelsmann headquarters in Gütersloh, Germany.

The New York Times - Magazine

But it seemed to work – maybe because I was longing to get out of there".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Ms. Whelan remembers seeing William Forsythe's pas de deux, "Urlicht," during her very first guest stint, and longing to perform the choreographer's work.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "longing to work" to express a deep and somewhat wistful desire for employment or engaging in specific tasks. This phrase often conveys a sense of absence or lack of fulfillment in one's current situation.

Common error

Avoid using "longing to work" in situations where simple eagerness or anticipation is more appropriate. This phrase carries a stronger emotional weight and should be reserved for scenarios where there is a genuine sense of yearning or deprivation. Opt for alternatives like "eager to work" or "excited to work" in such instances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "longing to work" functions as an infinitive phrase, where "longing" acts as a gerund expressing a strong desire or yearning, and "to work" specifies the object of that desire. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "longing to work" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that expresses a deep desire or yearning for employment. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English and conveys a strong emotional connection to the act of working. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, but it's also suitable for less formal communication. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the emotional weight you intend to convey, opting for alternatives like "eager to work" or "wanting to work" if a less intense expression is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yearning to work

Emphasizes a deep, persistent desire, potentially more intense than a simple longing.

eager to work

Highlights enthusiasm and anticipation rather than a wistful desire.

desiring to work

A more formal way to express the wish to be employed.

wanting to work

A straightforward and less intense expression of the desire to work.

wishing to work

Conveys a sense of hope or regret, implying current inability to work.

anxious to work

Indicates a sense of worry or nervousness mixed with the desire to work.

itching to work

Implies a strong urge and impatience to start working.

hankering to work

Suggests a craving or strong desire, somewhat informal.

having a strong desire to work

A more descriptive and emphatic way of expressing the longing.

keen to work

Expresses enthusiasm and willingness to engage in work.

FAQs

How can I use "longing to work" in a sentence?

You can use "longing to work" to express a strong desire or yearning for employment or specific tasks. For example: "After being unemployed for months, I was longing to work again." or "Despite the challenges, she found herself longing to work on the project."

What are some alternatives to "longing to work"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "eager to work", "yearning to work", or "desiring to work". Each alternative conveys a slightly different nuance of the desire to be employed.

Is it grammatically correct to say "longing to work"?

Yes, "longing to work" is grammatically correct. The verb "longing" correctly takes the infinitive form "to work" to express the object of the longing.

What's the difference between "longing to work" and "wanting to work"?

"Longing to work" implies a stronger emotional desire and a sense of absence or deprivation, whereas "wanting to work" is a more general and less intense expression of the desire to be employed.