desperately
Americanadverb
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
Etymology
Origin of desperately
Explanation
When you do something desperately you do it with extreme urgency. If faced with a life-and-death situation, you might fight desperately, using any means possible to overcome the obstacles and survive. The undercurrent of the adverb desperately is one of despair, which makes sense when you consider that it comes from the Latin desperatus, meaning "given up or despaired of." You can get a good sense of the word from its context in journalist Sheilah Graham’s statement, "You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough. You must want it with an inner exuberance that erupts through the skin and joins the energy that created the world."
Vocabulary lists containing desperately
A Long Walk to Water
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
We Were Liars
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Because of Winn-Dixie
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Marinakis will demand Glasner repeat his Palace success at Forest, but he also has to bring the stability which the club desperately need.
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026
Many people who worked for him describe desperately wanting his approval.
From Salon • Jul. 5, 2026
“I desperately needed a breather. I missed being able to chat with my neighbor for 15 minutes without our political preferences coming up.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 5, 2026
Fatou and several others accused Lidl of "misleading advertising" knowing so many people desperately need the units.
From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026
Major Puff wanted desperately to leave the burrow with the unpardonable yet invisible flaw as soon as possible.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
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.
