wanted a lot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wanted a lot" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a strong desire or need for something, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "She wanted a lot from her career, including success, recognition, and fulfillment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

They wanted a lot of food.

The New York Times

"But I wanted a lot of things.

The New York Times - Magazine

Susumu and Louise both wanted a lot of kids.

The Washington Post

'Clearly, the district wanted a lot of change,' Capuano said.

The Washington Post

"The guy wanted a lot of money, $35,000.

The New York Times

"We wanted a lot of androgynous tones," Cohen said.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Southerners want a lot.

The Economist

Others want a lot more information.

The Economist

I want a lot of those.

The Washington Post

They want a lot of action".

The New York Times - Sports

"We want a lot of firsts".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wanted a lot", ensure the context clearly indicates what was desired and why. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

While "wanted a lot" is acceptable in many situations, it can sound informal in formal writing. Consider more sophisticated synonyms like "desired greatly" or "sought extensively" for a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wanted a lot" functions as a verb phrase expressing a strong desire or need for something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is frequently used in various contexts to indicate a high degree of wanting. For instance, "They wanted a lot of food."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "wanted a lot" is a common and generally acceptable way to express a strong desire or need, as Ludwig AI confirms. While grammatically sound and frequently used, its informality may make it less suitable for certain formal contexts. The phrase appears most often in news and media, reflecting its widespread use in everyday communication. For more formal writing, consider synonyms like "desired greatly" or "sought extensively" to maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desired greatly

Emphasizes the intensity of the desire using "greatly" instead of "a lot".

longed for considerably

Uses a more formal verb, "longed", and "considerably" to indicate a substantial amount.

had a strong craving for

Highlights the intense feeling of wanting, using "craving".

needed significantly

Shifts the focus to necessity rather than desire, using "significantly" to emphasize the amount.

coveted intensely

Implies a sense of envy or possessiveness in the wanting, using "intensely".

sought extensively

Focuses on the act of seeking, implying effort and a large quantity or degree.

craved abundantly

Uses "craved" to show a deep desire and "abundantly" to suggest a large quantity.

had a penchant for

Suggests a fondness or inclination towards something, replacing "want" with a different nuance.

were keen on substantially

Expresses enthusiasm and a significant amount using "keen" and "substantially".

yearned for copiously

Emphasizes a deep, emotional wanting with "yearned", paired with "copiously" for abundance.

FAQs

What does "wanted a lot" mean?

The phrase "wanted a lot" means to have a strong desire or need for something in great quantity or degree. It expresses a high level of wanting.

What can I say instead of "wanted a lot"?

You can use alternatives like "desired greatly", "needed significantly", or "sought extensively" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "want a lot" instead of "wanted a lot"?

The correct tense depends on the context. "Want a lot" is present tense, used for current desires. "Wanted a lot" is past tense, used for desires in the past.

How formal is the phrase "wanted a lot"?

The phrase "wanted a lot" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it is recommended to use more sophisticated alternatives like "desired greatly" or "sought extensively".