Desire vs She has odd cravings
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Desire
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
She has odd cravings
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Desire
| Desire | She has odd cravings | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈzaɪə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈzaɪər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ʃiː hæz ɒd ˈkreɪvɪŋz//🇺🇸 //shi hæz ɑd ˈkreɪvɪŋz// |
| Meaning | A strong wish for something. | She wants strange foods. |
| Example | Her desire to travel the world consumed her thoughts daily. | She has odd cravings for pickles and peanut butter. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | burning, deep, fervent, feel, harbour/harbor, have, desire for, an object of desire, burning, deep, fervent, feel, harbour/harbor, have, desire for, an object of desire | satisfy cravings, unusual cravings, strange cravings |
| Antonyms | dislike, aversion, indifference | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'want' — 'desire' is stronger., Using 'desire' without an object — it needs something to be desired., Misplacing the stress in pronunciation. | Confused with 'crave' as a verb vs. 'cravings' as a noun., Misused in plural form when referring to a single desire., Used with non-food items, like 'She has cravings for attention.' |
| Usage notes | Used in both spoken and written English. It's appropriate in neutral contexts but might feel too strong or formal in casual conversations. Phrases like 'a desire to travel' are common. | Use 'cravings' when referring to strong desires for specific foods, often in informal contexts. It's less formal and may not be appropriate in professional settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Desire vs She has odd cravings
What's the difference between Desire and She has odd cravings?
Desire: A strong wish for something. She has odd cravings: She wants strange foods.
Which is more common: Desire and She has odd cravings?
Desire is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Desire: Her desire to travel the world consumed her thoughts daily. She has odd cravings: She has odd cravings for pickles and peanut butter.
Can I use Desire and She has odd cravings interchangeably?
Not always. Desire and She has odd cravings are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.