ache for
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to want someone or something very much, often in a way that feels sad or painful.
phrasal verb. to experience an intense, often painful desire or longing for someone or something; frequently used in literary or emotive contexts.
He aches for the home he left behind.
After months of traveling alone, she began to ache for the familiar faces of her family.
The protagonist aches for a sense of belonging in a city that feels increasingly cold and indifferent to his presence.
usually followed by a person, a place, or an abstract noun like 'freedom' or 'love'.
highlight that this is more intense and poetic than 'want' or 'miss'; it connects physical pain (ache) to emotional desire.
I am aching of a vacation.I am aching for a vacation.the verb 'ache' requires the preposition 'for' when expressing a strong desire for something.
Last updated April 24, 2026