English Reference
adjective · noun

desirable

adj. · n.
US /dɪˈzaɪɝəbəɫ/ UK /dɪzˈaɪəɹəbəl/ de·sir·able

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.having qualities that make people want it; worth having or doing.

    adj.possessing qualities that make a particular thing or action attractive, useful, or advisable.

    Simple

    The house is in a very desirable location near the park and the train station.

    In context

    While the proposed changes are highly desirable from a technical standpoint, the financial costs may prove prohibitive for the local council.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    adj.physically or sexually attractive.

    adj.arousing or tending to arouse sexual desire.

    Simple

    The magazine features articles on how to feel more confident and desirable.

    In context

    The marketing campaign relied heavily on the assumption that consumers would associate the fragrance with being more socially and physically desirable.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency FormalLiterary

    n.a person or thing that is wanted or considered attractive.

    n.a person or thing that is considered to be desirable or worth having.

    Simple

    The shop was full of expensive desirables that I could never afford.

    In context

    The auction house specialised in the sale of rare desirables, ranging from antique watches to first-edition manuscripts.

At face value, moving some of Amazon's activities into space to lessen its carbon footprint may seem environmentally desirable.

Phys.org· 15 Aug 2026

Its removal created valuable open space in highly desirable locations, and the Greenway was envisioned as a way to reconnect the existing urban spaces.

JSTOR Daily· 12 Aug 2026

From Old French desirable. Morphologically desire + -able.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated