wanting to leave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wanting to leave" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a desire or intention to depart from a place or situation. Example: "After a long day at work, I found myself wanting to leave the office early."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wanting reform, however, is not the same as wanting to leave.

The Guardian

"It's about people wanting to leave".

The New York Times - Food

Tanya apologises for wanting to leave.

The Guardian

The Russians balked, wanting to leave them undefined.

The New York Times

He just lingers, not wanting to leave his friend behind.

The New York Times - Sports

And in Florida, people not wanting to leave their pets.

Cornell University

Only three polls have shown a majority wanting to leave.

The Guardian - Opinion

I hesitated, not wanting to leave her like this.

The New Yorker

It's partly about wanting to leave a mark".

The Guardian - Film

"You can feel for him not wanting to leave there".

The New York Times

I can't seeing anybody wanting to leave that".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wanting to leave", ensure the context clearly indicates what or where the subject wants to depart from. For example, specify "wanting to leave the company" rather than just "wanting to leave".

Common error

Avoid using "wanting to leave" without a clear object or destination. This can lead to ambiguity and confusion. Always specify what is being left behind, such as "wanting to leave the country" or "wanting to leave the conversation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wanting to leave" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid and commonly used expression to denote a desire or intention to depart. For instance, "She is now an advocate and volunteer who helps people wanting to leave the restrictive sect."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

13%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wanting to leave" is a grammatically sound and very common gerund phrase used to express a desire or intention to depart. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and provides numerous examples of its usage across various contexts. It's most frequently found in news and media, science, and academic sources. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to specify what is being left behind. While alternatives like "desiring to depart" or "wishing to exit" exist, "wanting to leave" remains a straightforward and widely understood expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desiring to depart

Replaces "wanting" with "desiring" and "leave" with "depart", offering a more formal tone.

wishing to exit

Substitutes "wanting" with "wishing" and "leave" with "exit", implying a formal or official departure.

feeling like departing

Shifts the focus to the emotional state, indicating a sensation or sentiment of wanting to leave.

intending to quit

Highlights the intention to stop or cease involvement, specifically in the context of quitting.

inclined to withdraw

Replaces the original phrase with a more indirect expression of leaving, suggesting a tendency to remove oneself.

planning to abandon

Focuses on the planning aspect of leaving, implying a deliberate intention to forsake something.

aiming to escape

Conveys a sense of urgency or desire to break free from a situation or place.

yearning to get away

Expresses a strong emotional desire to leave, often associated with dissatisfaction or longing.

considering emigration

Specifically refers to leaving one's country to settle elsewhere, adding a geographical dimension.

thinking of relocating

Suggests a more general consideration of moving to a different place, without necessarily implying dissatisfaction.

FAQs

How can I use "wanting to leave" in a sentence?

You can use "wanting to leave" to express a desire to depart from a place, situation, or relationship. For example: "After the argument, she was "wanting to leave" the house."

What are some alternatives to saying "wanting to leave"?

Alternatives include "desiring to depart", "wishing to exit", or "intending to quit", depending on the specific context and level of formality.

Is it grammatically correct to say "wanting to leave"?

Yes, "wanting to leave" is grammatically correct as a gerund phrase. It functions as a noun and can be used as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence.

What's the difference between "wanting to leave" and "wanting to stay"?

"Wanting to leave" expresses a desire to depart from a situation or place, while "wanting to stay" expresses a desire to remain in the current situation or place. The key difference is the direction of the desired action: departure versus remaining.