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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Use it for slicing, shredding and dicing whatever your heart desires. Will Porter, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024 So easy, in fact, that there’s zero cooking involved—just stir the ingredients together, roll the mixture into balls, and coat them with whatever your heart desires. Josh Miller, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2024
Noun
Pride and a desire to provide some positive reinforcement for long-time Bears like defensive captain Jaylon Johnson and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams demand focus down the stretch, even with playoff odds of less than one percent, per ESPN. Phil Rogers, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 For many families, these conflicts tend to center around the desire for more independence. Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 2 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for desire 

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 8 Dec. 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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