desire

CEFRB1

/dɪˈzaɪə/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A strong wish to have or do something.

  2. 02

    verb

    To want something strongly.

Examples

  • We all desire health and happiness.

  • We soon believe what we desire.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /diˈzaɪɹ/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. To put a request to (someone); to entreat.

  2. To want emotionally or sexually.

verb

Extra meaning

  1. To want; to wish for earnestly.

More examples

In context

  • She has desired him since they first met.

  • Too much desire can seriously affect one’s judgement.

  • We all desire success.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

His burning blank for revenge consumed his every thought.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English desir, desire (noun) and desiren (verb), from Old French desirer, desirrer, from Latin dēsīderō (“to long for, desire, feel the want of, miss, regret”), apparently from de- + sidus (in the phrase de sidere, "from the stars") in connection with astrological hopes. Compare consider and desiderate. The verb, along with Old Norse derived want (verb), has mostly replaced native will in modern English.