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REFERENCE

desperate

adj. · adv.
US //ˈdɛspɝɪt// UK //dˈɛspəɹət// des·per·ate
  1. 1 feeling hopeless (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    feeling that a situation is so bad that you have no hope left.

    feeling or showing a state of despair, typically resulting in a willingness to take extreme risks.

    Example

    The lost hikers were desperate and cold after two nights in the woods.

    Example

    As the floodwaters rose, the desperate residents climbed onto their roofs, waving brightly coloured clothes to attract the attention of rescue helicopters.
  2. 2 needing something badly (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    having a very strong need or desire for something.

    having an urgent or distressing need for something specific.

    Example

    After the long desert trek, the travellers were desperate for a cold drink.

    Example

    The charity reported that thousands of families remain desperate for basic medical supplies following the earthquake.
    Pitfall
    He was desperate of a glass of water.
    He was desperate for a glass of water.

    Use the preposition 'for' when you are desperate to have something.

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  1. 3 a dangerous situation (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    describing a situation that is very serious or dangerous.

    extremely serious, dangerous, or bad; leaving little room for hope.

    Example

    The hospital is in a desperate situation because they have no more beds.

    Example

    The company made a desperate attempt to avoid bankruptcy by selling off its most valuable patents to a competitor.
  2. 4 extreme or intense (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    used to describe something very intense or strong.

    used as an intensifier to describe extreme degree or intensity.

    Example

    The two armies fought a desperate battle for control of the bridge.

    Example

    Despite their desperate efforts to revive the engine, the ship continued to drift toward the jagged rocks of the coastline.
  3. 5 very much (adv.)
    C2 Proficiency Dialect American English Informal

    used instead of 'desperately' to mean very much or extremely.

    functioning as an intensifier equivalent to 'desperately'; common in specific regional speech patterns.

    Example

    It is desperate cold outside today, so make sure you wear your heavy coat.

    Example

    The old farmer remarked that it had been a desperate long winter, even by the standards of the high plains.

    Usage

    In this dialectal sense, the word functions as an adverb modifying an adjective.
Origin

From Middle English desperat(e) (“desperate”), borrowed from Latin dēspērātus, perfect passive participle of dēspērō (“to be without hope”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix). The noun is derived from the adjective or from the Latin source through substantivization, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).

Word family

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