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Definitions

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.

The 59-year-old's exit is complicated by the 18 months remaining on his contract and France's desire to protect confidentiality around tactics.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Bonta and LoPresti said that the building of an ICE facility in Gilroy signals a desire by the federal government to increase enforcement in the area.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Indonesia began enforcing its own social media ban for users under the age of 16 in March, while several European governments have announced their desire to make similar moves.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

The film is a distinctly modern rumination on the desire to shut off and watch the world go by, without forming an opinion on the horrors.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

“Don’t you want to try it?!” he asked the princess, fighting off a wild desire to taste everything at once.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley




Vocabulary lists containing desire


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