desire

¹de·sire

verb \di-ˈzī(-ə)r, dē-\

de·siredde·sir·ing

Definition of DESIRE

transitive verb

1

: to long or hope for : exhibit or feel desire for <desire success>

2

a : to express a wish for : request <they desire an immediate answer>

b archaic : to express a wish to : ask

3

obsolete : invite

4

archaic : to feel the loss of

intransitive verb

: to have or feel desire

Examples of DESIRE

1. He desired her approval more than anything.
2. The apartment has modern amenities, a great location—everything you could desire.
3. She knew that men still desired her.

Origin of DESIRE

Middle English, from Anglo-French desirer, from Latin desiderare, from de- + sider-, sidus heavenly body

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DESIRE

Synonyms

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), set one's heart on

Related Words

spoil (for); adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, love, relish, revel (in); favor, prefer; admire, appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value

Near Antonyms

abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe; decline, refuse, reject, spurn

Synonym Discussion of 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>.

²desire

noun

Definition of DESIRE

1

: conscious impulse toward something that promises enjoyment or satisfaction in its attainment

2

a : longing, craving

b : sexual urge or appetite

3

: a usually formal request or petition for some action

4

: something desired

Examples of DESIRE

1. Desire is a common theme is music and literature.
2. The magazine tries to attend to the needs and desires of its readers.
3. Both sides feel a real desire for peace.
4. His decisions are guided by his desire for land.
5. They expressed a desire to go with us.
6. They have a desire to have children.
7. a strong desire to travel around the world
8. He was overcome with desire for her.

First Known Use of DESIRE

14th century

Related to DESIRE

Synonyms

appetency, appetite, craving, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, jones [slang], letch, longing, lust, passion, pining, thirst, thirstiness, urge, yearning, yen

Related Words

compulsion, impulse, impulsion, will, zeal; liking, love, taste, weakness; eagerness, impatience; want, wish; necessity, need, requirement; obsession; acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, covetousness, cupidity, greed, greediness, rapaciousness, rapacity; cacoëthes, mania

Near Antonyms

abhorrence, abomination, allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, distaste, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; apathy, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with DESIRE

attire, backfire, bemire, catch fire, cross fire, denier, entire, for hire, fox fire, Greek fire, grey friar, hang fire, hellfire, live wire, on fire, prior, rimfire, sapphire, sea fire, snow tire, town crier, trip wire, umpire, watch fire, white friar