dire
gb/dˈaɪɚ/ us/dˈaɪɚ/
B2
English
~ 28000
súlyos, szörnyű, borzalmas, csapnivaló, pocsék, szánalmas, tragikus, vkinek égető szüksége van vmire, vki szorult helyzetben van
B2
1
súlyos
B1
Usage pattern:
dire [situation/problem/consequences/warning]
Experts warned of dire consequences if the government failed to act on climate change.
Szakértők arra figyelmeztettek, hogy súlyos következményekkel járhat, ha a kormány nem lép fel az éghajlatváltozás ellen.
The report paints a dire picture of the country’s health-care system.
A jelentés súlyos képet fest az ország egészségügyi rendszeréről.
We ignored the dire warnings about the storm and ended up stranded for hours.
The company is in dire trouble after losing its largest client.
Scientists issued a dire prediction about rising sea levels over the next fifty years.
Learner examples
The doctor gave him a dire warning about his health.
Az orvos súlyos figyelmeztetést adott neki az egészségével kapcsolatban.
There will be dire problems if we do nothing.
Súlyos problémák lesznek, ha nem teszünk semmit.
The news showed the dire situation after the flood.
They are facing dire consequences for breaking the law.
The teacher’s face was serious as she gave a dire message to the class.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "dire" for any small or normal problem, but it should be kept for very serious or dangerous situations. It is also usually used before a noun ("dire consequences"), not by itself after a verb (people rarely say "the situation is dire" in everyday speech, even if it is possible).
Meaning
extremely serious and dangerous
Collocations
dire consequences
|dire situation
|dire warning
|dire prediction
|dire emergency
|dire threat
Synonyms
grave (Slightly more formal; often used in news and official contexts for very serious situations.)
|
critical (Stresses that the situation is at a very important or dangerous point where a decision or action is needed.)
Antonyms
minor (Suggests that the problem is small and not very serious, the opposite of something dire.)
|
harmless (Emphasizes that something causes no damage or danger, the opposite of being dangerous or dire.)
Themes
risk
|emergencies
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very serious and very bad, making people feel that something terrible may happen soon.
Very serious and causing great fear, worry, or danger, often suggesting that something bad is likely to happen soon.
C1
INFORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
dire [performance/result/movie/idea]
The team’s defending was absolutely dire in the second half.
That film was dire; I nearly fell asleep halfway through.
His presentation was so dire that nobody wanted to ask questions at the end.
The food at the hotel was dire, cold, and completely tasteless.
The singer gave a dire performance and forgot half the lyrics.
Learner examples
The movie was dire, and we left early.
Their performance in the match was dire.
The hotel room was dire and very dirty.
My first attempt at baking bread was dire.
The service in that restaurant is always dire.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this informal sense is neutral or formal, and use it in serious writing (for example, academic essays). In careful or formal writing, it is usually better to use words like "poor" or "unsatisfactory" instead of "dire" in this sense.
Meaning
extremely bad or awful
Collocations
dire performance
|dire result
|dire movie
|dire game
|dire mistake
|dire attempt
Synonyms
awful (Very common informal word; slightly less strong and dramatic than "dire".)
|
dreadful (Similar strength to "dire" but slightly more old-fashioned or dramatic in tone.)
Antonyms
excellent (Stresses very high quality, the direct opposite of something dire in this sense.)
|
decent (Suggests something is acceptable or okay, not terrible or dire.)
Themes
opinions
|entertainment
|daily_life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very bad in quality; really awful or terrible.
Extremely bad in quality; very poor, disappointing, or unpleasant.
C1
3
Usage pattern:
in dire [need/straits/poverty]
Many families in the region are in dire need of clean drinking water.
A térségben sok családnak égető szüksége van tiszta ivóvízre.
After the factory closed, the town found itself in dire straits financially.
Miután a gyár bezárt, a város anyagilag szorult helyzetbe került.
Refugees arrived at the camp in dire condition, exhausted and hungry.
The charity focuses on helping children living in dire poverty.
There is a dire shortage of medical staff in rural areas.
Learner examples
They are in dire need of food and water.
Égető szükségük van élelemre és vízre.
After he lost his job, his family was in dire straits.
Miután elvesztette a munkáját, a családja szorult helyzetbe került.
The village is in dire need of doctors.
Many people there live in dire poverty.
There is a dire shortage of safe housing.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the more general "very serious" sense and use it with things, not people or living conditions (for example, *"a dire machine"*). This sense is normally used for people’s situations, especially money, health, food, or basic needs, often in the patterns "in dire need", "in dire straits", or "dire poverty".
Meaning
extremely difficult or desperate
Collocations
in dire need
|in dire need of
|in dire straits
|dire poverty
|dire shortage
|dire circumstances
Synonyms
desperate (Very close in meaning; focuses more on the feeling of having no good choices.)
|
distressed (Emphasizes emotional or financial suffering, sometimes slightly less extreme than "dire".)
Antonyms
secure (Suggests having enough money, food, or support, the opposite of being in dire conditions.)
|
comfortable (Implies having what you need and more, not being in dire need or poverty.)
Themes
poverty
|emotions
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used to say that a person or group is in a very serious and desperate situation, without enough money, food, help, or other basic things.
Describing a situation where someone is in extreme difficulty or is desperately lacking something important, such as money, food, or help.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dire
IPA
GB/dˈaɪɚ/
US/dˈaɪɚ/
Syllables & stress
dire (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (dire)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: dire
- Comparative: direr
- Superlative: direst
Word family
Forms
direr
adjective
direst
adjective
Related words
direly
adverb
Advanced or less common
direness
noun
Expressions
dire consequences
1/dˈaɪɚ kˈɑnsəkwˌɛnsɪz/
fixed phrase
very serious bad results
Very serious bad results that can happen because of an action or decision.
Examples
- Ignoring these safety rules could have dire consequences.
- The scientists warned of dire consequences if pollution levels continued to rise.
- Cutting the budget so quickly may lead to dire consequences for public services.
dire emergency
1/dˈaɪɚ ɪmˈɚd͡ʒənsi/
fixed phrase
extremely serious emergency
A very serious and urgent situation that needs fast help or action.
Examples
- Hospitals declared a dire emergency as more patients arrived than they could treat.
- The charity appealed for funds, saying that the region faced a dire emergency.
- Only call this number if there is a dire emergency.
dire warning
1/dˈaɪɚ wˈɔɹnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
very serious warning
A very serious and strong warning that something bad may happen.
Examples
- Experts issued a dire warning about the spread of the new virus.
- The report is a dire warning of what could happen if we do nothing.
- Residents ignored the dire warning to leave before the hurricane arrived.
in dire need of
1/ˈɪn dˈaɪɚ nˈid əv/
fixed phrase
needing something very urgently
To need something very much and very quickly, often because the situation is serious.
Examples
- The hospital is in dire need of more nurses.
- We are in dire need of fresh ideas if we want the project to succeed.
- The shelter is in dire need of blankets and warm clothes for the winter.
in dire straits
1/ˈɪn dˈaɪɚ stɹˈeɪts/
idiom
in a very difficult situation
To be in a very serious or very difficult situation, often with money or basic needs.
Examples
- After several bad investments, the company found itself in dire straits.
- Many small businesses are in dire straits after months of low sales.
- Without outside help, the community will be in dire straits by the end of the year.
in dire straits
2/ˈɪn dˈaɪɚ stɹˈeɪts/
idiom
in very serious difficulty
To be in a very bad and serious situation, often with big money problems or very few choices.
Examples
- After the factory closed, many local families were in dire straits.
- The organization is in dire straits and may not survive another year.
- Without outside help, the hospital will soon be in dire straits.