desire
gb/dɪzˈaɪɚ/ us/dɪzˈaɪɚ/
B1
English
~ 1700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
strong feeling of wanting
A strong feeling that you want something or want something to happen.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s desire for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'desire' with 'wish'. 'Wish' is often used for specific hopes, while 'desire' refers to a stronger, more general feeling.
Synonyms
longing (Often suggests a deep, emotional, and sometimes nostalgic want.)
|
yearning (Implies an intense, often persistent emotional want.)
Antonyms
aversion (A strong dislike or unwillingness toward something.)
|
indifference (A lack of interest or concern about something.)
Collocations
strong desire
|sexual desire
|desire for freedom
|express a desire
|have a desire
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She felt a strong desire for adventure.
- His desire to help others inspired many people.
- The desire for success can be a powerful motivator.
- They expressed a desire for more flexible working hours.
Learner examples
- I have a desire to travel.
- He has a desire for a new car.
- She feels a desire to learn English.
- They have a desire for peace.
Verb
B2
action
2
to strongly want something
To really want something.
Usage pattern:
to desire [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'desire' in casual speech where 'want' is more natural; 'desire' can sound formal in everyday conversation.
Synonyms
crave (Often used for intense physical or emotional wants.)
|
wish for (A more general term, sometimes less intense than 'desire'.)
Antonyms
reject (To refuse to accept or want something.)
|
dislike (To have a negative feeling toward something instead of wanting it.)
Collocations
desire wealth
|desire attention
|desire change
|desire success
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many people desire happiness above all else.
- She desires nothing more than to see her family again.
- He desires a better future for his children.
Learner examples
- I desire a new phone.
- She desires to be rich.
- He desires peace and quiet.
Noun
B2
state
3
sexual attraction toward someone
A strong sexual feeling toward someone.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'desire' in this sense with general wants; context usually makes the sexual meaning clear.
Synonyms
lust (Often emphasizes purely physical attraction without emotional connection.)
Antonyms
repulsion (A feeling of strong dislike or disgust, especially in a sexual context.)
Collocations
sexual desire
|physical desire
|arouse desire
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|health
Examples
- Their eyes met, and she felt an unexpected surge of desire.
- The novel explores themes of love and desire.
- He couldn't hide his desire for her.
Learner examples
- He feels sexual desire for her.
- She has no desire for him.
- The story is about love and desire.
Grammar
Dictionary form
desire
IPA
GB/dɪzˈaɪɚ/
US/dɪzˈaɪɚ/
Syllables & stress
de - sire (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sire)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: desire
- Plural: desire, desires
Verb
- Base: desire
- 3rd Person Singular: desires
- Present Participle: desiring
- Past: desired
Word family
Forms
desires
noun
desiring
verb
desired
verb
Core family
desirable
adjective B1
Related words
desirability
noun C1
desirably
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
undesirable
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
desirous
adjective B2
Expressions
burning desire
1/bˈɚnɪŋ dɪzˈaɪɚ/
fixed phrase
extremely strong wish for something
A very strong wish to have or do something.
Examples
- She had a burning desire to win the championship.
- His burning desire to help others drove his career choices.
inspire desire
1/ɪnspˈaɪɚ dɪzˈaɪɚ/
fixed phrase
cause someone to strongly want something or someone
To make someone feel that they strongly want something or someone.
Examples
- The advertisement was designed to inspire desire for the product.
- Her performance inspired desire and admiration in the audience.
object of desire
1/ˈɑbd͡ʒɛkt əv dɪzˈaɪɚ/
fixed phrase
something greatly wanted by people
Something that many people want very much.
Examples
- The sports car became the new object of desire among collectors.
- For years, the island had been an object of desire for travelers.