Word
lust
Phoneticslust
US/ˈɫəst/
UK/lˈʌst/
Definitions
01sexual desire
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a very strong feeling of sexual attraction to someone.
n. intense sexual desire or appetite. Uncountable in its abstract sense, though it can be used countably to refer to specific instances.
“The movie is a story of love, lust, and betrayal in a small town.”
“The protagonist struggled to distinguish between genuine romantic affection and a fleeting sense of lust driven by the intensity of the moment.”
Antonyms
02strong desire for something
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a powerful desire for something like power, money, or travel.
n. an overwhelming or passionate desire for something non-sexual, such as power or wealth.
“His lust for power eventually led to his downfall as a leader.”
“The CEO's insatiable lust for profit often came at the expense of the company's long-term ethical standing.”
Antonyms
03to want intensely
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to feel a very strong sexual desire for someone.
v. to have an intense sexual desire for someone. Intransitive, typically requiring the preposition 'after'.
“He had lusted after her for years before he finally asked her out.”
“The narrative explores how the characters lust after one another while ignoring the practical realities of their social positions.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general emotion; countable when referring to specific instances or types of desire.
Real-World Examples
“In the comments on one Instagram video , someone opined that GTA VI “promotes lust”, resulting in a massive pile-on.” “From time to time I ran past them a selection of anecdotes illustrating other categories of sin committed by me in the past — sin motivated by lust, greed, anger, cruelty or grandiosity.” “Even more, over a third, is a consequence of our lust for gold.” Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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