sorely wish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sorely wish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong desire or longing for something that is not currently attainable or present. Example: "I sorely wish I could travel back in time to relive those cherished moments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

There are points where you sorely wish Morrissey had a few more apercus to impart.

The Guardian - Music

The exuberant cast, seemingly assembled to evoke the multi-sized, multicultural blend of big-voiced, bighearted kids on "Glee," definitely keeps the show's energy level from flagging for long (even when you sorely wish it would).

The New York Times

After that, I pick Lucie Brock-Broido's "Stay, Illusion" — gorgeous, eerie, brocaded; and a book I sorely wish I had written about, and may still: Ange Mlinko's "Marvelous Things Overheard".

The New Yorker

If we allow the shutting down and tearing down of our auto plants, we will sorely wish we still had them when we realize that those factories could have built the alternative energy systems we now desperately need.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"He'll be sorely missed and we wish him well for the future".

BBC

It's sorely tempting to be gracious and wish Connery a happy retirement, not withstanding some infamous views on women.

The Guardian - Film

"I'm sure he will be sorely missed in the England team but I wish him all the best in the future".

The Guardian - Sport

"He's only been with us two years, but he's made a huge impact and he's going to be sorely missed, but it would be churlish not to wish him all the best," said the 58-year-old.

BBC

The folks at Adbusters aren't particularly willing to credit Soros for this exchange of money, telling Reuters that they "wish he would give Adbusters some money, we sorely need it... He's never given us a penny".

Huffington Post

Call it what you wish- style, preparedness, savvy- Hillary championed what Bernie sorely missed.

Huffington Post

Readers who wish to find a progressive Jewish social ethic at work in the Frank camp will be sorely disappointed.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sorely wish" to convey a strong sense of longing or regret for something you desire but currently lack. It adds emotional weight to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "sorely wish" in everyday, casual situations where a simple "wish" or "want" would suffice. Its intensity can sound overly dramatic or out of place in lighter contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sorely wish" functions as a verb phrase expressing a strong desire or longing. As Ludwig AI confirms, the construction is grammatically correct. Examples on Ludwig show it used to express regret or a deep want for something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sorely wish" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a strong feeling of wanting or longing for something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct. While relatively uncommon, it appears predominantly in news and media contexts to convey a sense of regret or intense desire. When writing, use "sorely wish" to emphasize the depth of your longing, but avoid it in casual settings where a simpler expression would suffice. Related phrases such as "badly wish" or "greatly desire" can offer similar sentiments depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

badly wish

Emphasizes the intensity of the desire, similar to "sorely".

dearly wish

Indicates a heartfelt and sincere desire.

greatly desire

Replaces "wish" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing the strength of the feeling.

long for

Focuses on the feeling of yearning and missing something.

yearn for

Similar to "long for", but with a stronger sense of deep longing.

deeply desire

Similar to 'greatly desire' with focus on the strength of feeling.

earnestly hope

Emphasizes the sincerity and seriousness of the wish.

ardently desire

Uses a more intense adjective to describe the desire.

fervently hope

Highlights the passionate and enthusiastic nature of the hope.

desperately want

Conveys a sense of urgency and need in the desire.

FAQs

What does "sorely wish" mean?

"Sorely wish" means to have a strong feeling of wanting something, often with a sense of regret that it is not currently possible or available.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "sorely wish"?

Use "sorely wish" when you want to emphasize the intensity of your desire or longing, often in situations involving loss, regret, or significant unfulfilled aspirations.

Are there alternatives to "sorely wish" that I can use?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "badly wish", "dearly wish", or "greatly desire" to express a similar sentiment.

Is "sorely wish" considered formal or informal?

"Sorely wish" is generally considered more formal than a simple "wish", but it is appropriate for expressing strong emotions in both writing and speech.