long for
long for — phrasal verb
- long forbase form
- longs for3rd person singular
- longing for-ing form
- longed forpast simple
1. to feel a strong emotional wish for something that you do not have, that is far
to feel a strong emotional wish for something that you do not have, that is far away, or that seems unlikely to happen soon
After three months at sea, Mira longed for a hot shower and a home-cooked meal.
long for + noun phrase (concrete desires)
Mark had always longed for the chance to study art in Florence, Italy.
The children were longing for the weekend to arrive so they could visit the beach.
Hamza secretly longed for his brother's return, though he never said it out loud.
- yearn for
More literary and poetic; suggests deep, aching desire
- crave
Stronger physical or emotional hunger for something; can be used for both tangible and intangible things
- pine for
Suggests sadness or physical decline from missing someone or something; more old-fashioned
- wish for
Weaker and more general; can be used in everyday contexts where 'long for' would sound too strong
- detest
Strong opposite — to hate something intensely rather than desire it
- be indifferent to
To have no particular feeling either way
文法句型
long for + noun phrase
long for + object + to-infinitive
long + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Frequently used with adverbs like 'always', 'secretly', 'desperately'. The desire expressed by 'long for' is emotionally stronger than ordinary 'want' and often implies that the thing desired is absent, distant, or not easily achievable. In informal conversation, 'really want' or 'would love to' are more common; 'long for' sounds more heartfelt or literary.