wanted to visit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wanted to visit" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a desire or intention to go to a specific place in the past. Example: "Last summer, I wanted to visit the Grand Canyon, but I couldn't make the trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I've always wanted to visit Eastern Europe".

The New Yorker

Donatella wanted to visit one of them.

The New Yorker

Melinda wrote she wanted to visit Venice.

The New Yorker

Never wanted to visit here".

The New York Times

I wanted to visit its habitat.

The New Yorker

Little Warren wanted to visit Wall Street.

The New York Times - Books

She wanted to visit some open houses.

The New York Times

For all my life I wanted to visit his grave.

Independent

Also, I wanted to visit sites that it bypassed.

The New York Times - Travel

It's a place I have always wanted to visit.

Independent

"Nana wanted to visit the old homestead," Kay-Kay said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wanted to visit", ensure that the context clearly indicates the time frame (past) in which the desire existed. For ongoing desires, consider using "want to visit" or "would like to visit".

Common error

Avoid using "wanted to visit" to describe a current desire. Instead, use "want to visit" for present desires or "would like to visit" for a more polite expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wanted to visit" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past desire or intention to go to a specific place. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and expresses a clear intention. The phrase sets up an expectation or aspiration that existed at some point in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

15%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "wanted to visit" is a grammatically sound and widely used way to express a past desire or intention to visit a place. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is versatile and appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the time frame is clear (past) and consider alternatives like "desired to visit" for more formal situations or to add subtle nuances to your writing. Avoid using "wanted to visit" to describe present desires; instead, use "want to visit" or "would like to visit".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Desired to visit

Emphasizes a strong feeling of wanting to visit.

Wished to visit

Expresses a polite or formal desire to visit.

Longed to visit

Conveys a deep yearning or persistent desire to visit.

Hoped to visit

Suggests a wish or expectation to visit, which may or may not have been fulfilled.

Yearned to visit

Similar to 'longed', but with an even stronger sense of missing something.

Planned to visit

Indicates that there were concrete plans made to visit.

Intended to visit

Highlights the purpose or goal of visiting.

Aimed to visit

Implies a focused effort or objective to visit.

Dreamed of visiting

Implies a more aspirational or less practical desire.

Considered visiting

Suggests a thought or deliberation about visiting, without necessarily a firm decision.

FAQs

What is the difference between "wanted to visit" and "want to visit"?

"Wanted to visit" expresses a past desire, while "want to visit" expresses a current desire. For example, "I "wanted to visit" Rome last year" (past) versus "I "want to visit" Rome next year" (present).

Are there more formal alternatives to "wanted to visit"?

Yes, you could use phrases like "desired to visit", "wished to visit", or "intended to visit". These alternatives offer a more sophisticated tone.

How can I use "wanted to visit" in a sentence?

You can use "wanted to visit" followed by the place you wished to go. For example, "She "wanted to visit" Paris for her birthday".

What are some other ways to express a past desire to travel somewhere?

Alternatives include "had a desire to visit", "had always dreamed of visiting", or "had plans to visit". These options offer different nuances of meaning.