lust
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“The movie is a story of love, lust, and betrayal in a small town.”
In context“The protagonist struggled to distinguish between genuine romantic affection and a fleeting sense of lust driven by the intensity of the moment.”
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“His lust for power eventually led to his downfall as a leader.”
In context“The CEO's insatiable lust for profit often came at the expense of the company's long-term ethical standing.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'for'.
Antonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
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'.
Simple“He had lusted after her for years before he finally asked her out.”
In context“The narrative explores how the characters lust after one another while ignoring the practical realities of their social positions.”
UsageUsually takes the preposition 'after'.
Teacher's tipIn modern speech, this verb can sound quite dramatic or old-fashioned; 'fancy' or 'be attracted to' are more common in casual British or American English.
“In the comments on one Instagram video , someone opined that GTA VI “promotes lust”, resulting in a massive pile-on.”