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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.

Throughout history, he added, the Christian mission “has not infrequently been distorted by a desire for domination, entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.”

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

The changes stemmed in part from a desire to help disabled veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with conditions such as PTSD.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Simeone is loyal to Atletico but hasn't hidden his desire to one day manage another of his former clubs.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Sax argues, “That desire fits this very base desire as humans, which is to touch things, to interact with things, to buy things, to do actual things outside of our screens.”

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

Gogolev’s fear of the law was great, but his selfish desire not to share his lunch was even greater.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood