longing for
fixed phrase.fixed phrase. a strong feeling of wanting something or someone that is far away or difficult to get.
fixed phrase. a persistent, intense desire for something currently unattainable or absent. Often used to describe a nostalgic or emotional yearning.
She felt a deep longing for her home in the mountains.
After years of living in the city, he had a constant longing for the quiet life of the countryside.
The poet captures a profound longing for a lost era of innocence that can never truly be reclaimed.
usually follows a noun or verb to describe the target of a strong desire.
contrast with 'craving' (usually for food or physical needs) and 'yearning' (a very close synonym, though 'longing' is more common in everyday literature).
He has a longing of his childhood.He has a longing for his childhood.the noun 'longing' and the verb 'long' both require the preposition 'for' to connect to the object of desire.
Last updated August 2, 2026