# desired

/dɪˈzaɪɝd/ (US) · /dɪzˈaɪəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/desired
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. wanted or intended

adjective · CEFR B2

describing something that you want to happen or have.

For teachers: referring to a specific outcome or object that is wished for or required by a particular set of circumstances.

- The medicine helped the patient reach the desired level of comfort.
- The marketing campaign failed to produce the desired effect on quarterly sales, despite a significant increase in social media engagement.

## Examples

- The medicine produced the desired effect quickly.
- After several adjustments to the recipe, the chef finally achieved the desired level of spiciness.
- The policy change failed to yield the desired results, leading the committee to reconsider its initial assumptions about market behavior.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.