Definitions for desire
dɪˈzaɪərde·sire

Princeton's WordNet(3.50 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. desire(noun)

   the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

2. desire(noun)

   an inclination to want things

   "a man of many desires"

3. desire(verb)

   something that is desired

4. desire, want(verb)

   feel or have a desire for; want strongly

   "I want to go home now"; "I want my own room"

5. hope, trust, desire(verb)

   expect and wish

   "I trust you will behave better from now on"; "I hope she understands that she cannot expect a raise"

6. desire(verb)

   express a desire for

Wiktionary(3.50 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. desire(Noun)

   Someone or something wished for.

   Etymology: From desiren, from desirrer, from desidero, apparently, from de- + sidus (see sidereal), but the connection of thought is not clear (perhaps "to wish (down) from the stars"?); compare consider. Compare also desiderate.

2. desire(Noun)

   Strong attraction, particularly romantic or sexual.

   His desire for her kept him awake at night.

   Etymology: From desiren, from desirrer, from desidero, apparently, from de- + sidus (see sidereal), but the connection of thought is not clear (perhaps "to wish (down) from the stars"?); compare consider. Compare also desiderate.

3. desire(Noun)

   The feeling of desire.

   Too much desire can seriously affect one's judgment.

   Etymology: From desiren, from desirrer, from desidero, apparently, from de- + sidus (see sidereal), but the connection of thought is not clear (perhaps "to wish (down) from the stars"?); compare consider. Compare also desiderate.

4. desire(Verb)

   More formal or stronger word for want.

   I desire to speak with you.

   Etymology: From desiren, from desirrer, from desidero, apparently, from de- + sidus (see sidereal), but the connection of thought is not clear (perhaps "to wish (down) from the stars"?); compare consider. Compare also desiderate.

5. desire(Verb)

   To put a request to (someone); to entreat.

   Etymology: From desiren, from desirrer, from desidero, apparently, from de- + sidus (see sidereal), but the connection of thought is not clear (perhaps "to wish (down) from the stars"?); compare consider. Compare also desiderate.

6. desire(Verb)

   Another word for want, connoting emotion.

   She has been desiring him since they first met.

   Etymology: From desiren, from desirrer, from desidero, apparently, from de- + sidus (see sidereal), but the connection of thought is not clear (perhaps "to wish (down) from the stars"?); compare consider. Compare also desiderate.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Desire(verb)

   to long for; to wish for earnestly; to covet

2. Desire(verb)

   to express a wish for; to entreat; to request

3. Desire(verb)

   to require; to demand; to claim

4. Desire(verb)

   to miss; to regret

5. Desire(verb)

   the natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or the thought of any good, and impels to action or effort its continuance or possession; an eager wish to obtain or enjoy

6. Desire(verb)

   an expressed wish; a request; petition

7. Desire(verb)

   anything which is desired; an object of longing

8. Desire(verb)

   excessive or morbid longing; lust; appetite

9. Desire(verb)

   grief; regret

Freebase(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Desire

   "Desire" is a song by U2 and the third track on their 1988 album, Rattle and Hum. Released as the album's lead single, "Desire" was the band's first number-one single in the UK and Australia. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, and topped both the Modern and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, the first song to reach the top of both of these charts simultaneously. It reached number two on the Dutch Top 40. In 1989, "Desire" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Desire

   de-zīr′, v.t. to long for the possession of: to wish for: to request, ask: (B.) to regret.—v.i. to be in a state of desire.—n. an earnest longing for: eagerness to obtain: a prayer or request: the object desired: lust.—adj. Desir′able, worthy of desire: pleasing: agreeable.—ns. Desir′ableness, Desirabil′ity.—adv. Desir′ably.—adj. Desire′less.—n. Desir′er.—adj. Desir′ous, full of desire: anxious to obtain: eager.—adv. Desir′ously.—n. Desir′ousness. [Fr. désirer—L. desiderāre. See Desiderate.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. desire

   An intuitive feeling.

   It was always her desire to form a unity government as people working together for the good and benefit of all is the most intuitive and just outcome.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 15, 2020  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. desire

   Song lyrics by desire -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by desire on the Lyrics.com website.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'desire' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2010

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'desire' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4695

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'desire' in Nouns Frequency: #805

4. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'desire' in Verbs Frequency: #887

Anagrams for desire »

1. reside

2. eiders

How to pronounce desire?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say desire in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of desire in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of desire in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of desire in a Sentence

1. James Joyce:

   Love (understood as the desire of good for another) is in fact so unnatural a phenomenon that it can scarcely repeat itself, the soul being unable to become virgin again and not having energy enough to cast itself out again into the ocean of another's soul.

2. Bob Linscheid:

   This Super Bowl is a direct reflection on San Francisco's desire to give something back. We're a city with a heart.

3. H Hahn Blavatsky:

   Desire nothing, Chafe not at fate, nor at Nature's changeless laws. But struggle only with the personal, the transitory, the evanescent and the perishable.

4. Ted Beck:

   It’s okay if you both have incomes to agree that there is a certain amount each of you can spend without question, this way, you avoid the desire to hide things. Watch for red flags, and set ground rules going forward.

5. James Madison:

   The free system of government we have established is so congenial with reason, with common sense, and with a universal feeling, that it must produce approbation and a desire of imitation, as avenues may be found for truth to the knowledge of nations.

Images & Illustrations of desire

Popularity rank by frequency of use