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dire

adj.
US //ˈdaɪɝ// UK //dˈaɪə// dire
  1. 1 very serious or urgent (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    very serious or bad; used to describe a situation where something terrible might happen if you do not act.

    characterised by extreme danger or urgency; portending disastrous consequences if immediate action is not taken.

    Example

    The charity warned that the country is in dire need of food and clean water.

    Example

    The report issued a dire warning about the ecological consequences of continued deforestation in the region.

    Usage

    Commonly collocates with 'straits', 'need', 'consequences', or 'warning'.
  2. 2 extremely poor quality (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Informal British English

    very bad, boring, or of low quality.

    extremely poor in quality; used as a strong pejorative to describe performances, weather, or objects.

    Example

    The acting in that movie was absolutely dire.

    Example

    We had to leave the concert early because the sound quality was dire and the lead singer was out of tune.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is particularly common in British English to express strong disappointment.

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