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Definitions
Trivia Time
Which is a central theme of Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire?

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:

“The building evokes inside of me a desire to experiment,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

Higher sales volumes and a desire for more stability in management across shifts were also factors behind Cava’s decision to add assistant managers, Tolivar said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

In the same letter, Buffett expressed a desire for Berkshire’s share count to decline.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026

Rooney, who was almost pleading with United's players to "show some passion and desire" after a "nothing" first half, could only praise Carrick at the end.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

All it took was a fire, nearly dying, and being rescued by humans and healed in a box to make me feel it: a desire to play that smothers everything else.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Her feisty turn in “Ghostlight” is a far cry from mousy Minnie, who tamps down her disappointments and desires for the sake of others.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

It’s important to remember that, in life, most of us have desires that would yank us in severe directions.

From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026

Mr. Jones suggests that James sublimated doubts and forbidden desires into his stories and the routines of Cambridge and Eton.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 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

The whole time I know him, I have two overwhelming desires: to hug him and to give him a napkin.

From "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom

"The city stores have retained their upper end airs and graces, but the suburban stores leave a lot to be desired – they're mundane, they lack excitement and there's definitely no glitz," she said.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

Once glucose levels return to the desired range, the implant automatically shuts down.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026

Its savings programme will cost $2.0 billion before delivering the desired yearly benefits.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

Being a “permabull” and always betting on stocks is slightly better, because stocks go up more than they go down — but it still leaves a lot to be desired.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

And he needed the education that Florence desired far more than he, and that she might have got if he had not been born.

From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" 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

Towards it they now hurried desiring only to find a fire, and a door between them and the night.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien


Vocabulary lists containing desire

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