desired
Americanadjective
-
yearned or wished for; coveted.
-
deemed correct or proper; selected; required.
The chef added stock until the sauce reached the desired consistency.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of desired
A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at desire, -ed 2
Explanation
Anything desired is sought after. Money and love are desired by just about everyone. If your moony eyes don’t have the desired effect, then you’re still not getting seconds on dessert. If you desire something, you crave it. Something desired, then, is an object of desire. A desired job is one that many people seek. A desired cake looks delicious — you see it and you want to have it. When a type of clothing becomes popular, it’s desired by many. Some things are desired because they are rare, like a comic book with the first appearance of Batman. Anything desired is coveted.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Inflation remains well above the RBA’s desired levels while capacity pressures persist across the economy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
"The city stores have retained their upper end airs and graces, but the suburban stores leave a lot to be desired – they're mundane, they lack excitement and there's definitely no glitz," she said.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
This helps maintain a desired arrangement, but it also restricts the types of structures that can form and the functions they can perform.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026
Its savings programme will cost $2.0 billion before delivering the desired yearly benefits.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
For he desired in his soul, with fear and trembling, all the glories that his mother prayed he should find.
From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
