desire
verb (used with object)
had desired
-
past perfectof desire.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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 a Nov. 26 letter to the judge, Kwon said he had desired transparency but was blocked from talking publicly about the rescue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025
In reality, Magnifico grants almost no wishes, instead keeping them for himself while the wishers forget what they had desired.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 21, 2023
Raísa’s gift of her kidney failed to generate the sort of reciprocal satisfaction that she had desired, but she might still be the beneficiary of the joy of giving.
From Slate ● Nov. 12, 2022
His devotion to these recurring reminders simultaneously enshrined what happened, what didn’t happen and all that I knew he had desired to happen.
From New York Times ● Jan. 11, 2022
He smiled--and suddenly there seemed to be a pleasant significance in having been among the last to go, as if he had desired it all the time.
From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
