Word
desire
Phoneticsde·sire
US/dɪˈzaɪɝ/
UK/dɪzˈaɪə/
Definitions
01a strong wish
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a strong feeling that you want something or want to do something.
n. a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen.
日本語:願望※
“He had a strong desire to travel the world after finishing university.”
“Her lifelong desire to improve public health led her to pursue a career in medical research across several continents.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02sexual attraction
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a strong feeling of romantic or sexual attraction to someone.
n. a strong feeling of sexual attraction or romantic appetite toward another person.
日本語:欲望※
Español:deseo
“The movie is a story about love, desire, and betrayal.”
“The poet explores the tension between intellectual companionship and physical desire in his later works.”
Synonyms
03to want something
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
v. to want something very much.
v. to wish for or want something earnestly; often carries a more formal or intense tone than 'want'.
日本語:望む※
“You can have anything you desire for your birthday dinner.”
“The shareholders desire a more transparent reporting process before they agree to the proposed merger.”
Usage
Transitive verb taking a direct object or a 'to' infinitive.
04to request
C1 · Advanced Formal · Literary
v. to ask someone for something in a polite or formal way.
v. to express a wish to someone; to request or entreat.
“The king desired his guests to join him in the garden.”
“The governor desired the committee to reconsider their decision in light of the new economic data.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “desire” in context.
Verb
01. express desire
“Several employees have expressed a desire to work from home more frequently.”
verb + noun
Noun
02. desire for
“His desire for success motivated him to study late every night.”
noun + prep
03. desire to win
Real-World Examples
“It has been driven by the couple's desire to spend time in Europe, nearer Harry's family and wanting to educate their children in the UK.” “We’re going to work … as hard as we possibly can to get the trust back from the community, to get the culture where we desire to be, where we once had been.” Etymology
From Middle English desir, desire (noun) and desiren (verb), from Old French desirer, desirrer, from Latin dēsīderō (“to long for, desire, feel the want of, miss, regret”), apparently from de- + sidus (in the phrase de sidere, "from the stars") in connection with astrological hopes. Compare consider and desiderate. The verb, along with Old Norse derived want (verb), has mostly replaced native will in modern English.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
In Music
Cover shown under fair use for identification and commentary.
Desire · 1988 · Heartland rock
- Artist:
- U2
- Album:
- Rattle and Hum
U2 released this Grammy-winning rock anthem in 1988 as the lead single from their album Rattle and Hum. The title uses the word as a noun to describe an intense, driving ambition for fame and money. This figurative sense highlights how a powerful craving for success can control a person's life.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/desire
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0