longed for

Longed for describes something intensely desired or yearned for, often over a period of time.

The phrase suggests emotional depth—a longed-for reunion carries more weight than simply a wanted one.

It typically modifies nouns: their longed-for child, the longed-for peace finally arrived.

The hyphenated form functions as a compound adjective before a noun, while the unhyphenated form follows: The recognition she longed for never came.