desire
verb/dɪˈzaɪə(r)/
/dɪˈzaɪər/
not used in the progressive tensesVerb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they desire | /dɪˈzaɪə(r)/ /dɪˈzaɪər/ |
| he / she / it desires | /dɪˈzaɪəz/ /dɪˈzaɪərz/ |
| past simple desired | /dɪˈzaɪəd/ /dɪˈzaɪərd/ |
| past participle desired | /dɪˈzaɪəd/ /dɪˈzaɪərd/ |
| -ing form desiring | /dɪˈzaɪərɪŋ/ /dɪˈzaɪərɪŋ/ |
- (formal) to want something; to wish for something
- desire something We all desire health and happiness.
- The house had everything you could desire.
- The dessert can be topped with cream, if desired (= if you like).
- The medicine did not achieve the desired effect.
- desire to do something Fewer people desire to live in the north of the country.
- desire somebody to do something She desired him to leave her alone.
Extra Examples- A home of her own was something she had always very much desired.
- Most countries sincerely desired peace.
- We all need and desire to find our place in society.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- greatly
- really
- truly
- …
- desire somebody to be sexually attracted to somebody
- He still desired her.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- greatly
- really
- truly
- …
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French desir (noun), desirer (verb), from Latin desiderare, perhaps from de- ‘down’ + sidus, sider- ‘star’.
Idioms
See desire in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee desire in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishleave a lot, much, something, etc. to be desired
- to be bad or unacceptable
- The service in the restaurant left a lot to be desired.
Check pronunciation:
desire