longed-for
longed-for — adjective
1. describes something that someone has wished for over a long period and feels ver
describes something that someone has wished for over a long period and feels very happy to finally get or experience
The young scientist received the longed-for letter confirming her research grant.
attributive adjective before concrete noun (letter)
After months of treatment, the patient's longed-for recovery surprised even the doctors.
longed-for before abstract noun (recovery)
The librarian smiled as she held the longed-for first edition of the novel.
For the small fishing village, the arrival of clean water was a longed-for change.
The mountain guide reached the longed-for summit just before the sun went down.
noun phrase: longed-for summit
- longed-for child
- longed-for moment
- longed-for break
- longed-for return
- longed-for change
- long-awaited
more common; can be used both before nouns and after linking verbs
- much-anticipated
strongly positive; often used for events like releases, performances, or announcements
- eagerly awaited
slightly more formal; focuses on the feeling of expectation rather than duration
Grammar Patterns
longed-for + noun
Usage Note
Only used before a noun (attributive position). Cannot be used after a linking verb — you would not say 'the moment was longed-for' in standard English; instead say 'the moment was long awaited' or restructure the sentence.