desired

[dih-zahyuhrd]

adjective

1. yearned or wished for; coveted.

2. deemed correct or proper; selected; required.

   The chef added stock until the sauce reached the desired consistency.

Other Word Forms

• undesired adjective
• well-desired adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of desired¹

A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; desire, -ed ²

Example Sentences

In Hangzhou, once the capital of Song China, Marco Polo observed markets linked by canals and warehouses that “supply them with every article that could be desired.”

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The annual report for 2024/25 said primary school attendance in the county was "moving rapidly" towards pre-pandemic levels, but desired secondary school attendance as "slower to recover".

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Dr Caroline Copeland, who led the new research, said drug policies "will not have the desired impact unless the true scale of the problem is known".

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This designation was desired by the Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, who described his clampdown on criminal gangs as a "war."

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"The scanner will enable shoppers to choose the avocado that is right for them and which therefore can help them plan their usage and desired shelf life," says Ms Lawrence.

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Related Words

• applicable 
• apt 
• convenient 
• correct 
• fitting 
• good 
• opportune 
• pertinent 
• proper 
• relevant 
• true 
• useful