desired

American

[dih-zahyuhrd] / dɪˈzaɪərd /

adjective

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

undesired adjective
well-desired adjective

Etymology

Origin of desired

A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; 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.

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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.

He made a dramatic threat and achieved the desired result.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

As she worked on Go Gentle, her heroine turned into a sage who desired only what she had and cheerily accepted whatever fate threw at her.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

This requires understanding context, the desired intent and having the ability to act in that moment.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

She adjusts her grip and movements to achieve the desired result.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

They were for ever ardent and craving; still I desired love and fellowship, and I was still spurned.

From "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023