desire
Americanverb (used with object)
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desires,
present (3rd person singular)
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desired,
past participle, past
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desiring
present participle
noun
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desires
plural
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a longing or craving, as for something that brings satisfaction or enjoyment.
a desire for fame.
- Synonyms:
- thirst, appetite, hunger, aspiration
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an expressed wish; request.
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something desired.
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sexual appetite or a sexual urge.
verb
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to wish or long for; crave; want
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to express a wish or make a request for; ask for
noun
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a wish or longing; craving
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an expressed wish; request
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sexual appetite; lust
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a person or thing that is desired
Usage
What are other ways to say desire? To desire something or someone is to crave or long for them. How is desire different from want and wish? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Synonym Usage
Desire, craving, longing, yearning suggest feelings that impel one to the attainment or possession of something. Desire is a strong feeling, worthy or unworthy, that impels to the attainment or possession of something that is (in reality or imagination) within reach: a desire for success. Craving implies a deep and imperative wish for something, based on a sense of need and hunger: a craving for food, companionship. A longing is an intense wish, generally repeated or enduring, for something that is at the moment beyond reach but may be attainable at some future time: a longing to visit Europe. Yearning suggests persistent, uneasy, and sometimes wistful or tender longing: a yearning for one's native land.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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desirednessnoun
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desirernoun
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overdesirenoun
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self-desirenoun
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desirelessadjective
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undesiringadjective
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desiredlyadverb
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desiringlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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desiresimple
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desiressimple
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have desiredperfect
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has desiredperfect
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am desiringprogressive
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are desiringprogressive
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is desiringprogressive
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have been desiringperfect progressive
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has been desiringperfect progressive
Past
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desiredsimple
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had desiredperfect
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was desiringprogressive
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were desiringprogressive
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had been desiringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of desire
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English desiren, from Old French desirer, from Latin dēsīderāre; see desiderate ( def. )
Explanation
If you're talking about the longings of the heart, use the word desire. When you are studying for a difficult history exam, the desire to be somewhere far away doing something fun might be very strong! Desire can be used as both a noun and a verb. Is your boyfriend your heart's desire? Your parents probably desire your punctual appearance at the dinner table every evening. Desire is usually used not just when you long for any old thing, but for something that is associated with giving great pleasure. Thus, you might want to get an A on a test, but you desire a piece of chocolate cake.
Vocabulary lists containing desire
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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.
See Examples For:
Ms. Cho’s Ye-ji is sweetly ingratiating, earnest in her desire to capture the lives of working people, yet she has a self-congratulatory air and turns stiff when politely called to account for her own obliviousness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
The ramp-up is guided by a strong desire to avoid safety problems, company officials said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
They’re not consumed by a desire to appear thankful for the privilege to make money from playing sports.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026
But a desire not to have staff going into multiple homes, to reduce the risk of infection transmission, meant staff shortages got even worse.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
But she seemed to be distracted by the desire to make her four legs work together.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
It’s a film for anyone who has put aside their desires and told themselves it’s too late or too scary to try something new.
From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026
Many of the young people attending daytimers gigs were moving between the expectations of family and community and the desires of a younger generation testing out music, fashion, friendship and independence on its own terms.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
They have joys and desires, just not their former ones.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
“I had to quell those desires for homeownership as I continue to see the price of everything grow exponentially,” she said.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
Accommodating the every need of the visiting gentry—cleaning their rooms; washing, ironing, and setting out their clothes; anticipating their desires while appearing invisible—was a sows ear of a job that Katherine deftly spun to silk.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
As the business grew, institutional investors began to reach their desired exposure limits, according to executives at the fund-management firms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
Why vote if you don’t expect it to help achieve the desired result?
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026
That mentality is seeming to have the desired effect.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
The gentlemen in the area leave much to be desired.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
The children looked at one another, thinking of all the things they desired.
From "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket
Huckabee reportedly told embassy staff in an email there was "no need to panic, but for those desiring to leave, it's important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later".
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026
Talk about two old school dishes that are doable, theoretically, for home chefs desiring to replicate the former dining experience in their more modest castles.
From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2025
The motivations for septuagenarian entrepreneurs include desiring autonomy, pursuing meaningful projects and addressing societal needs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2025
Dueling with windmills or the bright moon, desiring Dulcinea, coming to his senses and dying are the Don’s business.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2024
Elévée picked at the short sleeve of her school uniform, evidently not desiring to talk about fashion.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
