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desire

[dih-zahyuhr] / dɪˈzaɪər /




VERB
ask, request
Synonyms
Antonyms
STRONG
WEAK
not want


Usage

What are other ways to say desire? Desire, a formal verb, suggests a strong wish: They desire liberation. Wish implies the feeling of an impulse toward attainment or possession of something; the strength of the feeling may be of greater or lesser intensity: I wish I could go home. Want, usually colloquial in use, suggests a feeling of lack or need that imperatively demands fulfillment: People all over the world want peace.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

He was an empty vessel into which hundreds of millions of people in America and around the world poured their confusion, rage and desire.

From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2026

He says it was this period of his life which fuelled a desire to compete for a Guinness World Record.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

The desire for a fresh start came after a legal battle with her ex, Derek Richard Thomas.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

His travels sparked a desire to invest outside the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

The desire to fit in, to be liked.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

“Everyone has the same desires, the same dedication. What a beautiful opportunity to just press the gas pedal further.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

It’s a film for anyone who has put aside their desires and told themselves it’s too late or too scary to try something new.

From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026

“I had to quell those desires for homeownership as I continue to see the price of everything grow exponentially,” she said.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

Similarly, to build the council houses Burnham desires to cut the housing benefits bill will need big cheques.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

I can give her cousin a respectful hearing, whatever he desires.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

That mentality is seeming to have the desired effect.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

Arizona’s quarterback play left much to be desired.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

Instead of physically extending or retracting a metal antenna, the idea was to adjust the laser to produce a plasma beam of the desired length.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 9, 2026

“If the desired level of investment rises faster than the available pool of savings, the system needs a higher return to make the pieces fit.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

I spent most of my time in a state of repentance for things I had vividly desired to do but had not done.

From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin

Huckabee reportedly told embassy staff in an email there was "no need to panic, but for those desiring to leave, it's important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later".

From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026

The motivations for septuagenarian entrepreneurs include desiring autonomy, pursuing meaningful projects and addressing societal needs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2025

That’s when someone falsely accuses one’s perceived opponents of conducting, plotting or desiring to commit the same transgressions that one plans to commit or is already committing.

From Salon ● Jun. 17, 2025

She had a predilection for painting women as modern, urban, desiring.

From New York Times ● Apr. 1, 2024

“There is hardly any desiring to refresh such a memory as that,”—said Mr. Knightley, feelingly; and for a moment or two he had done.

From "Emma" by Jane Austen


Vocabulary lists containing desire

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