desire
1 of 2verb
de·sire di-ˈzī(-ə)r 
dē-
desired; desiring
transitive verb
1
: to long or hope for : exhibit or feel desire for
desire success
knew that men still desired her
2
a
: to express a wish for : request
they desire an immediate answer
b
archaic : to express a wish to : ask
desired them to reconsider
3
obsolete : invite
4
archaic : to feel the loss of
intransitive verb
: to have or feel desire
They may come if they so desire.
desire
2 of 2noun
1
: conscious impulse (see impulse entry 1 sense 1) toward something that promises enjoyment or satisfaction in its attainment
ridding oneself of all desires
how humans process desire
2
a
: longing, craving
teenagers' desire for independence
… the inexpensive homebuilt craft that satisfy many people's desire to fly
James Fallows
James Fallows b
: sexual urge or appetite
3
: something longed or hoped for : something desired
You are my heart's desire.
4
: a usually formal request or petition for some action
at the desire of one fifth of those present U.S. Constitution
U.S. Constitution
Synonyms
Verb
- ache (for)
- covet
- crave
- desiderate
- die (for)
- hanker (for or after)
- hunger (for)
- itch (for)
- jones (for) [slang]
- long (for)
- lust (for or after)
- pant (after)
- pine (for)
- repine (for)
- salivate (for)
- sigh (for)
- thirst (for)
- want
- wish (for)
- yearn (for)
- yen (for)
Noun
- appetency
- appetite
- craving
- drive
- hankering
- hunger
- itch
- jones [slang]
- letch
- longing
- lust
- passion
- pining
- thirst
- thirstiness
- urge
- yearning
- yen
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He desired her approval more than anything. The apartment has modern amenities, a great location—everything you could desire. She knew that men still desired her. Noun Desire is a common theme in music and literature. The magazine tries to attend to the needs and desires of its readers. Both sides feel a real desire for peace. His decisions are guided by his desire for land. They expressed a desire to go with us. They have a desire to have children. a strong desire to travel around the world He was overcome with desire for her. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 2 Sep. 2022 Maintaining a reserved tone, Yoon said his government has no plans to pursue its own nuclear deterrent and doesn’t desire political change in Pyongyang that’s brought by force. Fox News, 19 Aug. 2022 The songstress who has recently been touring the U.S. with Big Time Rush, crushing her gig as the opening act desire an onstage health scare, took time to celebrate with her friends and family. Seventeen, 15 Aug. 2022 What is curious is the notion that this is what his club’s fans not only desire, but demand. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 However, desire without a plan will get you nowhere. Robert Brace, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 The latter – with broad support across the country – has come to desire systemic, transformational change. Munza Mushtaq, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 July 2022 The film attempts to give shape to love’s myriad emotions, from tenderness to desire to calculation to shame. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 July 2022 Ultium Cells had allotted about $2 billion for the construction of each plant, but GM spokesman Jim Cain explained why Ultium Cells would still desire a loan. Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 25 July 2022 Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 And every coach’s desire for a playbook concept to unfold with perfect precision is often Pollyannaish. Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Television has a way of creating desire for things that might otherwise generate only curiosity or just nostalgia. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 That desire for control and identity (not to mention the whispers of his council) could very well outweigh the insecurity that's at least partly guiding his decision to keep Rhaenyra as his heir. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2022 Despite the concerns and the desire for more information, the committee overwhelmingly voted to recommend the doses. Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 1 Sep. 2022 Hefty wage gains for workers, combined with the highest levels of inflation in 40 years are likely driving workers' desire for bigger paychecks. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 31 Aug. 2022 Both Gen Xers and millennials vocalized a desire for work-life balance when starting their careers. Hillary Hoffower, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2022 This focus often leads to the introduction of features that are addictive and prey on teens’ insecurities and desire for social approval. Eric Reicin, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 See More
Verb
LotR fans desire communion, a unique encounter with the object of their devotion, but not for any interpreter to act as God himself. Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 2 Sep. 2022 Maintaining a reserved tone, Yoon said his government has no plans to pursue its own nuclear deterrent and doesn’t desire political change in Pyongyang that’s brought by force. Fox News, 19 Aug. 2022 The songstress who has recently been touring the U.S. with Big Time Rush, crushing her gig as the opening act desire an onstage health scare, took time to celebrate with her friends and family. Seventeen, 15 Aug. 2022 What is curious is the notion that this is what his club’s fans not only desire, but demand. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 However, desire without a plan will get you nowhere. Robert Brace, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 The latter – with broad support across the country – has come to desire systemic, transformational change. Munza Mushtaq, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 July 2022 The film attempts to give shape to love’s myriad emotions, from tenderness to desire to calculation to shame. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 July 2022 Ultium Cells had allotted about $2 billion for the construction of each plant, but GM spokesman Jim Cain explained why Ultium Cells would still desire a loan. Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 25 July 2022 Noun
But the desire for them has grown only more ravenous since the pandemic, especially ones that cater to the different sensibilities of creative people. Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 And every coach’s desire for a playbook concept to unfold with perfect precision is often Pollyannaish. Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Television has a way of creating desire for things that might otherwise generate only curiosity or just nostalgia. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 That desire for control and identity (not to mention the whispers of his council) could very well outweigh the insecurity that's at least partly guiding his decision to keep Rhaenyra as his heir. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2022 Despite the concerns and the desire for more information, the committee overwhelmingly voted to recommend the doses. Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 1 Sep. 2022 Hefty wage gains for workers, combined with the highest levels of inflation in 40 years are likely driving workers' desire for bigger paychecks. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 31 Aug. 2022 Both Gen Xers and millennials vocalized a desire for work-life balance when starting their careers. Hillary Hoffower, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2022 This focus often leads to the introduction of features that are addictive and prey on teens’ insecurities and desire for social approval. Eric Reicin, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French desirer, from Latin desiderare, from de- + sider-, sidus heavenly body
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing desire
Kids Definition
desire 1 of 2
verb
de·sire di-ˈzīr
desired; desiring
1
: to long for : wish for in earnest
Both sides desire peace.
2
: to express a wish for : request The council desires an immediate response.
desire
2 of 2noun
1
: a strong wish : longing
a desire for companionship
2
: something longed for
It was his heart's desire to return home.
Legal Definition
desire
transitive verb
de·sire
desired; desiring
: to wish for earnestly see also precatory
Note: Courts have variously interpreted desire in wills to indicate either a direction of the testator that must be followed or merely an expression of what the testator hoped would happen.
desired 1 of 2
adjective
as in wanted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- wanted
- welcome
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- undesired
- unwanted
- unwelcome
- undesirable
- unacceptable
- unsolicited
- objectionable
- uninvited
- offensive
- unasked
- unbidden
- unsought
- unbid
desired
2 of 2verb
1
as in craved
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy he greatly desired a new mountain bike for his next birthday Synonyms & Similar Words
- craved
- wanted
- coveted
- enjoyed
- preferred
- liked
- desiderated
- loved
- wished (for)
- itched (for)
- admired
- jonesed (for)
- salivated (for)
- longed (for)
- relished
- hungered (for)
- thirsted (for)
- lusted (for or after)
- fancied
- pined (for)
- hankered (for or after)
- ached (for)
- repined (for)
- sighed (for)
- yearned (for)
- yenned (for)
- died (for)
- set one's heart on
- favored
- valued
- adored
- panted (after)
- appreciated
- spoilt (for)
- prized
- treasured
- cherished
- spoiled (for)
- revelled (in)
- dug
- reveled (in)
- delighted (in)
- grooved (on)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hated
- despised
- detested
- abhorred
- loathed
- refused
- rejected
- abominated
- declined
- spurned
- execrated
2
as in requested
to make a request for the host desires a response to the dinner invitation by tomorrow Synonyms & Similar Words
- requested
- sought
- required
- demanded
- quested
- urged
- pled (for)
- importuned
- solicited
- bespoke
- pleaded (for)
- plead (for)
- invited
- claimed
- requisitioned
- sued (for)
- asked (for)
- called (for)
- spoke (for)
- wished (for)
- invoked
- clamored (for)
- begged (for)
- enjoined
- exacted
- applied (for)
- petitioned (for)
- pressed (for)
- insisted (on)