would desire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would desire" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a hypothetical wish or longing for something in a more formal or polite manner. Example: "If I had the opportunity, I would desire to travel the world and experience different cultures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Falluja offers urban guerrillas the combat terrain they would desire.

The New York Times

Still, the result is not what they would desire".

The New York Times - Sports

Every incoming maestro would desire such a rosy outcome; achieving it is another matter.

The New York Times - Arts

To identify unmet needs of patients taking medications for chronic health conditions and identify medication-related services that patients with chronic health conditions would desire.

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association

"I'm a successful player in the N.F.L., having what most people would desire for their lives," Tyree said.

The New York Times - Sports

Hq. desires firm list top flight Communists whom new government would desire to eliminate immediately in event of successful anti-Communist coup.

The New York Times

It is a classic anthropomorphic fallacy to believe that an animal's best interests are whatever a human would desire under similar circumstances.

The New York Times

South Koreans in general tend to doubt that a longtime exile would have had any access to the kind of state secrets North Korea would desire.

The New York Times

Chiang continues to make ends meet through technical writing; it's unclear whether the success of "Arrival" could change that, or even whether he would desire such a change.

The New Yorker

* Tod Williams Billie Tsien, for the Natatorium at Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., where "the inventive open-air feeling creates an environment any swimmer would desire".

The New York Times

The social good that local organisations do often lacks the scale of payback that benefactors would desire for the size of resource needed to fund activity.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would desire" when aiming for a formal or slightly elevated tone, especially in writing or professional contexts. It adds a layer of politeness and sophistication to your expression.

Common error

Avoid using "would desire" in casual conversations or informal writing where simpler alternatives like "would like" or "would want" are more appropriate. Overusing it can make your speech sound unnatural or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would desire" functions as a modal verb phrase, expressing a conditional or hypothetical wish, longing, or preference. It is used to soften a request or statement, making it more polite or formal. Ludwig examples confirm its use in expressing desired outcomes or actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would desire" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a hypothetical wish or longing with a touch of formality. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its appropriateness in professional, academic, and news contexts. While simpler alternatives like "would like" or "would want" may suffice in casual settings, "would desire" is ideal when aiming for a more sophisticated and polite tone. Keep in mind that a good journalist "would desire" a more authentic documentation of the event, so you do your best to shoot from as many vantage points as allowed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would want

Less formal and more direct than "would desire".

would wish

Similar in formality to "would desire", but slightly more archaic.

would like

A common and generally less formal alternative.

would prefer

Indicates a choice or preference between options.

would hope for

Expresses a hope or expectation for something.

would long for

Conveys a strong sense of yearning or desire.

would aspire to

Implies a desire to achieve something ambitious.

would crave

Suggests a strong and often urgent desire.

would hanker after

An informal expression for strongly wanting something.

would be inclined to

Indicates a leaning or preference towards something.

FAQs

How can I use "would desire" in a sentence?

You can use "would desire" to express a polite or formal wish. For example, "I "would desire" to thank you for your assistance" or "What outcome "would desire" if they could choose?"

What is the difference between "would desire" and "would like"?

"Would like" is a more common and less formal way of expressing a wish. "Would desire" is more formal and conveys a stronger sense of longing or aspiration.

What can I say instead of "would desire"?

Alternatives include "would want", "would wish", "would prefer", or "would like". The best choice depends on the context and the desired level of formality.

Is "would desire" considered grammatically correct?

Yes, "would desire" is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It is used to express a hypothetical wish or longing in a more formal manner.