desirable
Americanadjective
-
worth having or wanting; pleasing, excellent, or fine.
a desirable apartment.
-
arousing desire or longing.
a desirable man or woman.
-
advisable; recommendable.
a desirable law.
noun
adjective
-
worthy of desire or recommendation
a desirable residence
-
arousing desire, esp sexual desire; attractive
noun
Other Word Forms
- desirability noun
- desirableness noun
- desirably adverb
Etymology
Origin of desirable
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French; equivalent to desire + -able
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.
In addition to making work more desirable, Mr. Klingbeil wants to make it easier for companies to hire.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
That included the $55 billion purchase of Anadarko Petroleum in 2019 that substantially increased Occidental’s U.S. production, boosting its exposure in the desirable Permian basin region of Texas.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
“Privately set behind gates on one of Longridge Estates’ most desirable streets, this corner-lot residence offers both scale and warmth,” the listing read.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 20, 2026
As populations continue to grow, females may also become more selective, which could further favor males with stronger displays or other desirable traits.
From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2026
We bounced around from house to house, usually opting for the more affordable and less desirable parts of town.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
