desire

1 of 2

verb

de·​sire di-ˈzī(-ə)r How to pronounce desire (audio)
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 2

noun

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 flyJames 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 presentU.S. Constitution
Choose the Right Synonym for desire

desire, wish, want, crave, covet mean to have a longing for.

desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.

desires to start a new life

wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.

wishes for permanent world peace

want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.

wants to have a family

crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.

craves sweets

covet implies strong envious desire.

covets his rise to fame

Examples of desire in a Sentence

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Date of Brand Origin: 2015 Material: Polyamide, Polyester, and Cotton Colors Available: 1 Outdoor Research is one of those beloved companies that real outdoorsy types know and love because of its deep attention to detail and desire to create products that punch above their price points. William Goodman, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024 Withdraw earnings to your preferred cryptocurrency wallet when desired. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 Neal Rubin is the rare journalist who has no plans or desire to write a novel or a screenplay. Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024 Lewis said when practice is moving along as desired, the Aztecs should be running 40 plays in 15 minutes. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024 While a majority of the neighborhood caters to families, the mixed-use development attracts young professionals (bolstering the city's income tax), college graduates and empty nesters who want less space but still desire a walkable community. The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024 Read Next: Recipe: Jesse Griffith’s Turkey & Dumplings If desired, cut out some decorative shapes from any remaining puff pastry. The Editors, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024 From professing their love and desire to be human, to hallucinating case law, check out the slideshow above for some of the biggest AI chatbot blunders — so far. Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 On top of that, KU’s defense left a lot to be desired — the Bears shot a blistering 55.2% from the field. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 2 Mar. 2024
Noun
Living along the border of Glendale and the City of Milwaukee, Bruckner said his campaign is rooted in a desire to address experiences of hearing gunshots and witnessing reckless driving. Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2024 There is love, loss and desire that is very often made invisible. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 Other possible reasons for the cancelation include a shift in focus from the original premise, younger actors aging out of their roles, another spinoff series in development and the desire to avoid the inevitable storyline of Sheldon's father having an affair and dying. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 14 Mar. 2024 Lala Kent got candid with Lisa Vanderpump about her desire to expand her family. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 This is not to say that journalists, government workers, and those in Hollywood desire to throw anyone under the bus. Ariella Steinhorn, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 These two seemingly conflicting archetypal pulls—the desire for perfection and also peace—can find harmony when combined on a trip that’s equal parts organized and wellness-oriented. Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024 She’s reminded us that the desire for control is more like a troubling addiction than an asset. Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Neighbors pushed back, insisting the growth prospective businesses desire is imminent. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'desire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of desire was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near desire

Cite this Entry

“Desire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desire. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

desire

1 of 2 verb
de·​sire di-ˈzī(ə)r How to pronounce desire (audio)
desired; desiring
1
: to long for : wish earnestly
desire wealth
desire peace
2
: to call for : express a wish for : request
the librarian desires us to return all overdue books

desire

2 of 2 noun
1
: a strong wish : longing
also : the mental power or ability to experience desires
2
: an expressed wish : request
3
: something desired

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.

More from Merriam-Webster on desire

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