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
 DesireShe has odd cravings
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈzaɪə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈzaɪər/"]/🇬🇧 //ʃiː hæz ɒd ˈkreɪvɪŋz//🇺🇸 //shi hæz ɑd ˈkreɪvɪŋz//
MeaningA strong wish for something.She wants strange foods.
ExampleHer desire to travel the world consumed her thoughts daily.She has odd cravings for pickles and peanut butter.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsburning, deep, fervent, feel, harbour/​harbor, have, desire for, an object of desire, burning, deep, fervent, feel, harbour/​harbor, have, desire for, an object of desiresatisfy cravings, unusual cravings, strange cravings
Antonymsdislike, aversion, indifference-
Common mistakesConfused 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 notesUsed 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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She has odd cravings

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.

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