Desire — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /di-ˈzī(-ə)r/ de·sire

Meaning & Definition of Desire

Desire (verb)

  1. to long or hope for, exhibit or feel desire for
  2. to want to have sex with (someone)
  3. to express a wish for, request

Desire (noun)

  1. conscious impulse toward something that promises enjoyment or satisfaction in its attainment
  2. longing, craving
  3. sexual urge or appetite

Desire (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a strong wish for something

    "a desire for adventure and excitement prompted him to travel to Africa"

    similar: appetency, appetite, craving, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, jones (slang), letch, longing, lust, passion, pining, thirst, thirstiness, urge, yearning, yen
    related: compulsion, impulse, impulsion, will, zeal, liking, love, taste, weakness, eagerness, impatience, want, wish, necessity, need, requirement, obsession, acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, covetousness, cupidity, greed, greediness, rapaciousness, rapacity, cacoëthes, mania
    near: abhorrence, abomination, allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, distaste, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, apathy, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

  2. sexual appetite

    "ads for drugs that increase desire"

    similar: concupiscence, eroticism, horniness, hots, itch, lech, letch, libidinousness, lust, lustfulness, lustihood, passion, salaciousness
    related: libido, ardor, heat, rut, erotomania, hypersexuality, lecherousness, lechery, nymphomania, satyriasis, venery
    near: abstinence, celibacy, chastity, frigidity, frigidness

  3. an earnest request

    "at the delegate's desire, the voice vote on the controversial measure was followed by an actual roll call"

    similar: adjuration, appeal, conjuration, cry, entreaty, petition, plea, pleading, prayer, solicitation, suit, suppliance, supplication
    related: application, requisition, call, claim, demand, insistence

Desire (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy

    "he greatly desired a new mountain bike for his next birthday"

    similar: ache (for), covet, crave, desiderate, die (for), hanker (for or after), hunger (for), itch (for), jones (for) (slang), long (for), lust (for or after), pant (after), pine (for), repine (for), salivate (for), sigh (for), thirst (for), want, wish (for), yearn (for), yen (for), set one's heart on
    related: spoil (for), adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, love, relish, revel (in), favor, prefer, admire, appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value
    near: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, decline, refuse, reject, spurn

  2. to make a request for

    "the host desires a response to the dinner invitation by tomorrow"

    similar: ask (for), bespeak, call (for), plead (for), quest, request, seek, solicit, speak (for), sue (for)
    related: apply (for), beg (for), claim, clamor (for), importune, urge, wish (for), demand, enjoin, exact, insist (on), petition (for), press (for), require, requisition, invite, invoke

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Desire

The most common words with a similar meaning to Desire:

Slang: jones, jones (for)
appetency, appetite, craving, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, letch, longing, lust, passion, pining, thirst, thirstiness, urge, yearning, yen, concupiscence, eroticism, horniness, hots, lech, libidinousness, lustfulness, lustihood, salaciousness, adjuration, appeal, conjuration, cry, entreaty, petition, plea, pleading, prayer, solicitation, suit, suppliance, supplication, ache (for)

Related Words for Desire

compulsion, impulse, impulsion, will, zeal, liking, love, taste, weakness, eagerness, impatience, wish, necessity, need, requirement, obsession, acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, covetousness, cupidity, greed, greediness, rapaciousness, rapacity, cacoëthes, mania, libido, ardor

Near Antonyms of Desire

abhorrence, abomination, allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, distaste, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, apathy, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern, abstinence, celibacy, chastity, frigidity, frigidness, abhor, abominate, despise

Word Forms of Desire

Inflections: desired, desiring

Origin & Etymology of Desire

Middle English, from Anglo-French desirer, from Latin desiderare, from de- + sider-, sidus heavenly body

First known use: 13th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Desire

Words & Phrases Containing Desire

desire line, heart's desire, object of desire

Frequently Asked Questions about Desire

What does "Desire" mean?

"Desire" means to long or hope for, exhibit or feel desire for. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to long or hope for, exhibit or feel desire for. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Desire"?

Other words for "Desire" include appetency, appetite, craving, drive, hankering, hunger, itch and jones. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Desire" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Desire"?

There are 147 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Desire". Common alternatives include appetency, appetite, craving, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, jones, letch and longing.

How do you use "Desire" in a sentence?

Examples of "Desire" in a sentence: "a desire for adventure and excitement prompted him to travel to Africa"; "ads for drugs that increase desire"; "at the delegate's desire, the voice vote on the controversial measure was followed by an actual roll call".

Is "Desire" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Desire" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Desire" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Desire" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Desire"?

"Desire" is pronounced /di-ˈzī(-ə)r/ and divided into syllables as de·sire.

What is the origin of the word "Desire"?

"Desire" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French desirer, from Latin desiderare, from de- + sider-, sidus heavenly body. First known use: 13th centuryt.