# ache for

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ache-for
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to want someone or something very much, often in a way that feels sad or painful.

For teachers: to experience an intense, often painful desire or longing for someone or something; frequently used in literary or emotive contexts.

## Examples

- 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am aching of a vacation." but "I am aching for a vacation." — the verb 'ache' requires the preposition 'for' when expressing a strong desire for something.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by a person, a place, or an abstract noun like 'freedom' or 'love'.
- Teaching tip: highlight that this is more intense and poetic than 'want' or 'miss'; it connects physical pain (ache) to emotional desire.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.