Definitions for desire
dɪˈzaɪərde·sire

Princeton's WordNet(3.40 / 5 votes)Rate this definition:

1. desirenoun

   the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

2. desirenoun

   an inclination to want things

   "a man of many desires"

3. desireverb

   something that is desired

4. desire, wantverb

   feel or have a desire for; want strongly

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

5. hope, trust, desireverb

   expect and wish

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

6. desireverb

   express a desire for

Wiktionary(3.50 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. desirenoun

   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. desirenoun

   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. desirenoun

   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. desireverb

   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. desireverb

   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. desireverb

   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. Desireverb

   to long for; to wish for earnestly; to covet

2. Desireverb

   to express a wish for; to entreat; to request

3. Desireverb

   to require; to demand; to claim

4. Desireverb

   to miss; to regret

5. Desireverb

   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. Desireverb

   an expressed wish; a request; petition

7. Desireverb

   anything which is desired; an object of longing

8. Desireverb

   excessive or morbid longing; lust; appetite

9. Desireverb

   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(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. desire

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

Matched Categories

1. • Feeling
   • Inclination
   • Request

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. Linda Cardellini:

   Cardellini on deciding to pursue film and television roles in Los Angeles instead of stage work in New York: "I had the desire to go to Los Angeles, and it's paid off for me. I can't complain." --quoted in DAILY NEWS, August 19, 1999

2. Confucius:

   Wealth and rank are what people desire, but unless they be obtained in the right way they may not be possessed.

3. Roland Barthes:

   Language is a skin: I rub my language against the other. It is as if I had words instead of fingers, or fingers at the tip of my words. My language trembles with desire.

4. Razeena Banu. A:

   Your desire for something due to your half knowledge about it is enough for you to fall into a pit.

5. Holger Boerner:

   The smaller builders where you do have some private equity ownership, limited trading volumes and the desire to grow, that's where you are more likely to see mergers.

Images & Illustrations of desire

Popularity rank by frequency of use