desperately
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
used to emphasize how much you want or need something.
used as an intensifier to indicate extreme degree, typically with verbs of wanting, needing, or hoping.
Simple“The small village desperately needs a new doctor before the winter starts.”
In context“The charity is desperately seeking volunteers to assist with the distribution of emergency supplies in the flooded regions.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
doing something in a way that shows you have little hope or are in a dangerous situation.
in a manner that suggests despair, urgency, or a lack of regard for safety due to extreme circumstances.
Simple“He looked desperately for his lost keys as the last train began to pull away.”
In context“The trapped hikers signaled desperately to the rescue helicopter, waving their bright jackets against the grey rocks.”
SynonymsAntonyms
Usage desperately need · desperately saddened · desperately needed
“Prof Deborah Prentice, Cambridge’s vice-chancellor, said in a statement: “We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news.”
“She came to desperately miss physical touch during treatment.”
From desperate + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.