she longed for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she longed for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a strong desire or yearning for something or someone. Example: "After years of living in the city, she longed for the peace and quiet of her childhood home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

She longed for a more normal schedule.

The New York Times

In others, she longed for her family in the Netherlands.

The New York Times

She longed for a cure, a tab of magic.

The New York Times - Magazine

In spite of herself, she longed for him.

The New Yorker

Mrs. Banda now has the credit line she longed for.

The New York Times

It's also the warm family space that she longed for.

The New Yorker

She longed for books, for culture, for something to study.

The Guardian - Books

When Malala was little, she longed for another name.

The Guardian

She longed for intelligent and frank conversation, which mostly only her brother provided.

The New York Times - Books

She longed for the baby and came to believe she was homesick for the old ranch.

The New Yorker

She longed for the days when we used to sing and dance for, and with, our loved ones.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she longed for" to effectively convey a character's deep yearning or desire for something, adding emotional depth to your writing. Ensure the context supports the intensity of the longing.

Common error

Avoid using "she longed for" for trivial desires. The phrase carries a strong emotional weight, so reserve it for situations where the longing is significant and meaningful to the character or narrative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she longed for" functions as a verb phrase expressing a subject's deep yearning or desire. Ludwig examples showcase its usage in narrative contexts to convey emotional depth. It emphasizes a strong emotional connection to something desired.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she longed for" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express a strong desire or yearning. As Ludwig AI shows, it appears most often in News & Media sources. The phrase carries a significant emotional weight, making it best suited for contexts where the longing is profound. While semantically similar alternatives like "she yearned for" or "she craved" exist, ""she longed for"" maintains a versatile, expressive tone that is appropriate for various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she yearned for

Replaces "longed" with "yearned", conveying a similar sense of deep longing but with a slightly more intense connotation.

she craved

Substitutes "longed" with "craved", indicating a strong and urgent desire.

she desired

Uses "desired" instead of "longed", providing a more formal and general term for wanting something.

she hungered for

Replaces "longed" with "hungered", emphasizing a deep, almost primal need.

she pined for

Substitutes "longed" with "pined", suggesting a sorrowful longing, often for something lost or unattainable.

she wished for

Uses "wished" instead of "longed", implying a less intense and perhaps more wistful desire.

she ached for

Replaces "longed" with "ached", conveying a feeling of deep emotional pain due to the absence of something.

she had a strong desire for

Rephrases the sentence to explicitly state a "strong desire", making it more direct.

she felt a longing for

Changes the structure to emphasize the feeling of longing as an emotion she experienced.

she deeply missed

Focuses on the feeling of loss and absence, suggesting a strong emotional connection to what is missed.

FAQs

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

Use "she longed for" to express a strong desire or yearning. For example: "After years of separation, "she longed for" the day she would see her family again."

What are some alternatives to "she longed for"?

You can use alternatives like "she yearned for", "she craved", or "she desired" depending on the context and intensity of the desire.

Is "she longed for" considered formal or informal?

"She longed for" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal writing, although it's often found in literary or narrative contexts.

What's the difference between "she longed for" and "she wanted"?

"She wanted" expresses a general desire, while ""she longed for"" conveys a much deeper, more intense yearning or emotional need. The former is simple volition, and the latter implies deep desire or missing.