out of longing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "out of longing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something is done or happens because of a strong desire or emotion such as love, longing or nostalgia. Example: She left her hometown out of longing for a new and exciting adventure.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

I suppose I began the story out of longing.

The New Yorker

It was as if someone had made her up, out of longing.

The New York Times

Here, in a show that is really a road movie with music, he, along with Patty Griffin (music and lyrics) and Keith Bunin (book), teases poignance and nuance out of longing.

The New Yorker

Perhaps out of longing for distant seas, the Butler family of Youngstown, Ohio, assembled a major collection of marine paintings that is now housed in the Butler Institute of American Art.

The New York Times

The show's catalog quotes Frederik L. Polak, the Dutch sociologist and utopian philosopher: "If Western man now stops thinking and dreaming the materials of new images of the future and attempts to shut himself up in the present, out of longing for security and for fear of the future, his civilization will come to an end.

The New York Times - Arts

Leguat continued with an elaborate description of the female Rodrigues solitaire, which also appears to be the sex depicted in his illustration of the bird: It has been proposed that Leguat's comparison between the crop of the female Rodrigues solitaire and the "beautiful bosom of a woman" (changed to "fine neck" in some editions of his memoirs) was out of longing for female companionship.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"Tristan" — which is known for musical chromaticism and for a painfully stretched-out sense of longing — is also notorious for exhausting its musicians to the point of collapse and, in some cases, death.

The New York Times - Books

As communist governments collapsed across Europe, Ceausescu looked set to ride out the wave of longing and discontent, fuelled by clandestine reports on change elsewhere, until a standoff with a dissident priest in western Romania triggered his downfall.

The Guardian

Its central event is signaled by the title and spelled out in the first sentence, so that its story plays out to the melancholic rhythms of longing.

The New York Times

It creates a sad sense of longing to get out, to get free of the imprisoning cell and to join the dancer.

The New York Times - Arts

Gui said he had fled mainland China after the incident, in which a young woman was killed, but had been driven to return last year out of guilt and a sense of longing for his homeland.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "out of longing" to convey a deep, often wistful motivation behind an action or creation. It's particularly effective in narratives and descriptive writing to add emotional depth.

Common error

While "out of longing" adds emotional resonance, avoid overuse in formal or technical writing. Opt for more direct causal phrases like "due to" or "because of" for clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

"Out of longing" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating the motivation or cause behind an action or state. It introduces an emotional element, suggesting a deep-seated desire or yearning is the driving force. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Arts

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "out of longing" serves as a potent descriptor of actions and emotions rooted in deep yearning or desire. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and effectively conveys emotional motivation. While not as prevalent in formal or technical writing, it finds its niche in narratives, creative pieces, and news reports where the expression of wistful motivation adds depth. Related phrases like "motivated by yearning" or "driven by desire" offer similar nuances. Remember to use "out of longing" judiciously to avoid overwrought prose, particularly in professional contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

motivated by yearning

Replaces "out of" with "motivated by", emphasizing the driving force of yearning.

driven by desire

Focuses on the 'desire' aspect of longing, suggesting a proactive pursuit.

impelled by yearning

A more formal alternative, "impelled" indicates a strong internal force.

prompted by yearning

Highlights the initiation of an action due to yearning.

due to a strong desire

Explains the 'longing' as a 'strong desire', providing clarity.

because of a craving

Uses "craving" to depict a more intense form of longing.

from a place of yearning

Emphasizes the emotional origin of the action or state.

fueled by a yearning

Suggests that yearning is the energy source behind something.

born of longing

Presents longing as the origin or cause of something, often in a poetic sense.

with a sense of yearning

Focuses on experiencing something alongside yearning, rather than being directly motivated by it.

FAQs

How can I use "out of longing" in a sentence?

Use "out of longing" to describe actions or feelings motivated by a deep sense of yearning or desire. For example, "She returned to her childhood home "out of longing" for simpler times".

What are some alternatives to "out of longing"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "motivated by yearning", "driven by desire", or "prompted by yearning" to express similar sentiments.

Is it grammatically correct to say "out of longing"?

Yes, the phrase "out of longing" is grammatically correct and widely accepted in English. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

What's the difference between "out of longing" and "because of longing"?

"Out of longing" often suggests a more emotional and deeply felt motivation, while "because of longing" is a more direct causal explanation. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.