desire

verb de·sire \ di-ˈzī(-ə)r , dē- \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: desire in a Sentence

Definition of desire

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.

See desire defined for English-language learners

See desire defined for kids

Examples of desire in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of desire from the Web

There are some men who simply desire to see unease and fear in a woman’s face.

— caitlin moran, The Cut, "How to Tell the Bad Men From the Good Men," 5 July 2018
Those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of George to the American Heart Association (heart.org) or to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).

— orlando sentinel, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Deaths in Central Florida: 7/1," 1 July 2018
Those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of Robert to the Cancer Research Institute (Cancer Research Institute, Web Donation,29 Broadway, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10006-3111).

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Robert Lynn Rolfe," 14 June 2018
Trump, who desires a measure of chaos at all times, is reveling in the effects of his own mercurial decision-making, the people said.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Exhausted aides of a chaotic president eye White House exits," 11 June 2018
Trump, who desires a measure of chaos at all times, is reveling in the effects of his own mercurial decision-making, the people said.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Exhausted aides of a chaotic president eye White House exits," 11 June 2018
One of the points of contention about the changes is how the city should handle issuing permits to residents who desire to have live music at parties or other gatherings.

— steve lord, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora looking at changes to noise ordinance, may require permit for bands in residential areas," 6 June 2018
Parents have filed a formal complaint with Portland Public Schools that asserts the district is illegally prioritizing students who desire to attend specialty schools such as an arts magnet over highly-gifted students who need a special program.

— bethany barnes, OregonLive.com, "Complaint: Access Academy students who need alternative education given short shrift," 26 Apr. 2018
All that seems left is punishing women who don’t desire motherhood.

— jennifer wright, Harper's BAZAAR, "Abortion Is Not Murder," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'desire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of desire

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

desire Synonyms

Phrases

set one's heart on;

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

desire

noun

Definition of desire

1 : conscious impulse (see ²impulse 3) 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

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

See desire defined for English-language learners

Examples of desire in a Sentence

Desire is a common theme is 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 of desire from the Web

That desire for legal authority over women didn’t go away with Roe, as evidenced by the political obsession with our most intimate decisions.

— jill filipovic, Time, "It's Naive to Think a Conservative Supreme Court Wouldn't Target Roe v. Wade," 12 July 2018
The equal and opposite reaction to that desire is a suppressing of the draft-day prices of non-superstar veterans who may not win fantasy leagues single-handedly, but will almost certainly deliver an easy payoff.

— michael beller, SI.com, "Fantasy Football 2018: The Boring All-Star Team," 10 July 2018
Scott, who is just a few years out of the millennial age bracket, shares that desire.

— christa case bryant, The Christian Science Monitor, "How young liberals' moves to Red America may temper political divides," 6 July 2018
That subject, recurrent throughout Nkanga’s oeuvre, can be summarized as the exploitation of raw materials, the accompanying environmental and social destruction, and the human desire that ultimately drives it all.

— lori waxman, chicagotribune.com, "Human desire and exploitation: Don't miss a powerhouse show at the MCA by Otobong Nkanga," 5 July 2018
If Leonard wanted to go to Los Angeles before this weekend, that desire has to be even stronger now.

— mike finger, San Antonio Express-News, "As hope of perfect outcome fades, Spurs face a choice," 2 July 2018
But these incidents also may point to something else — like the desire to preserve racial hierarchies by casting people of color as deviants that can be removed at any moment.

— p.r. lockhart, Vox, "A black 12-year-old was mowing a lawn. So someone called the police.," 2 July 2018
The bombing of the stadium was foiled, but that night haunts this moment, and the desire for a time of celebration and communion in the streets of Paris.

— laurent dubois, The Atlantic, "France’s Ghosts Return for the World Cup," 14 July 2018
Trump’s noncommittal stance on the status of Crimea may stem from the desire to pursue better relations with Russia, but this is misguided.

— nina jankowicz, The New Republic, "Available in Helsinki: the Fate of Eastern Europe," 13 July 2018

Origin and Etymology of desire

see ¹desire

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

desire Synonyms

Synonyms

appetency, appetite, craving, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, longing, passion, pining, thirst, thirstiness, urge, yearning, yen;

Near Antonyms

abhorrence, abomination, allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, distaste, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion;

apathy, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern;

liking, love, taste, weakness;

eagerness, impatience;

want, wish;

necessity, need, requirement;

obsession;

acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, covetousness, cupidity, greed, greediness, rapaciousness, rapacity;

mania;

Other Psychology Terms

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

DESIRE Defined for English Language Learners

desire

verb

Definition of desire for English Language Learners

: to want or wish for (something) : to feel desire for (something)
: to want to have sex with (someone)
: to express a wish for (something)

desire

noun

Definition of desire for English Language Learners

: the feeling of wanting something
: a strong wish : a wish for something or to do something
: a feeling of wanting to have sex with someone

DESIRE Defined for Kids

desire

verb de·sire \ di-ˈzīr \

Definition of desire for Students

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.

Synonym Discussion of desire

desire, wish, and crave mean to want something very much. desire is used when a person has a great feeling for and actually strives to get what is wanted.

- The immigrants desired a better life.

wish is used when a person wants something that he or she has little or no chance of getting.

- He foolishly sat around and wished for wealth.

crave is used for the force of physical or mental needs.

- The hungry dogs craved food.

desire

noun

Definition of desire for Students

1 : a strong wish : longing

a desire for companionship

2 : something longed for

It was his heart's desire to return home.

Law Dictionary

desire

transitive verb de·sire

legal Definition of desire

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.