desirable

[ dih-zahyuhr-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. worth having or wanting; pleasing, excellent, or fine:

   a desirable apartment.

2. arousing desire or longing:

   a desirable man or woman.

3. advisable; recommendable:

   a desirable law.

noun

1. a person or thing that is desirable.

desirable

/ dɪˈzaɪərəbəl /

adjective

1. worthy of desire or recommendation

   a desirable residence

2. arousing desire, esp sexual desire; attractive

noun

1. a person or thing that is the object of desire

Derived Forms

• deˌsiraˈbility, noun
• deˈsirably, adverb

Other Words From

• de·sira·bili·ty de·sira·ble·ness noun
• de·sira·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of desirable¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French; equivalent to desire + -able

Example Sentences

The reason an injunction is so desirable for law enforcement is that the police don’t have the resources to pursue gang members when they commit bona fide crimes.

From Voice of San Diego

“Legislation like this rarely takes into account the ripple effect on all workers of the impact on the employer, which can result in outcomes that are less desirable than intended,” Walshok said.

From Voice of San Diego

Many people, including scientists, are concerned that rogue scientists wouldn’t stop at editing out diseases and would create “designer babies” with enhanced athletic ability, intelligence or other desirable traits.

From Science News

A raised, sloped area—where the keys are broken up by the triangular shape—helps create a more desirable, comfortable position for your hands.

From Popular-Science

The piece, which argues the pandemic has forever made cities like New York less desirable, got a ton of pushback.

From Fortune

The more expensive it becomes, the better it must be, which in turn makes it more desirable.

From The Daily Beast

That seems to be the secret to creating a successful, desirable, and wearable device.

From The Daily Beast

Is gambling culture more desirable than gay culture and counterculture?

From The Daily Beast

Now, he's out to prove that redheads are just as desirable as their neutral-hued brethren.

From The Daily Beast

As prejudices waned, it became easier and ultimately desirable for Jews to fully assimilate.

From The Daily Beast

And all over the world each language would be taught with the same accent and quantities and idioms—a very desirable thing indeed.

From Project Gutenberg

Some critics feel that, despite much that is desirable in her work, the soul is lacking in the women she paints.

From Project Gutenberg

To my friends ever since I have not failed to recommend the passage of the Butterley tunnel as a desirable pleasure excursion.

From Project Gutenberg

And I will make thy bulwarks of jasper: and thy gates of graven stones, and all thy borders of desirable stones.

From Project Gutenberg

To bring forth a violin of this desirable type, Stradivari directed his energies.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acceptable
• beneficial
• enviable
• expedient
• gratifying
• helpful
• preferable
• profitable
• useful
• worthwhile