desperately

[des-per-it-lee, -prit-]

adverb

1. in a reckless or dangerous way because of hopelessness or urgency.

   In the movie, he’s the object of an intense police manhunt and scrambles desperately around Belfast trying to escape.

2. in a way that shows urgent need or desire.

   He is highly motivated to put his all into everything he does, trying desperately to prove himself.

3. to a very serious or dangerous degree that leaves little hope.

   People without medical insurance may often suffer without care until they are desperately ill.

4. extremely or excessively.

   My weekend will be desperately dull, as I've been on vacation all week and have to catch up with work.

Other Word Forms

• quasi-desperately adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of desperately¹

desperate ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Now the state desperately needs more natural gas to keep the lights and heat on.

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All the enlightened reformers in Europe were desperately trying to eliminate the peasant peculiarities and plebeian dialects that divided the peoples of their nations.

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I demand, trying desperately to keep my eyes off Autumn and Ama.

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As you see, Penelope was desperately seeking her window of opportunity.

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And indeed, Miss Mortimer was trying desperately to dismiss everyone, with handshakes all around and many exclamations of “Good night now, sleep well, sweet dreams!”

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Related Words

• badly 
• dangerously www.thesaurus.com
• fiercely 
• greatly 
• perilously 
• seriously