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to desire

to desire

446 1.6
To want something very much
  • verb
  • /dɪˈzaɪər/
translation icon : desear
  • And for that... whatever your heart desires, you shall possess it.
  • desire to study abroad
  • students who desire

You can't will yourself to stop desiring something this moment.

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Examples

  • I will grant you what your soul desires!

  • Now they're to be sent back to their natural habitat, where they will live their lives in the freedom they so clearly desire.

  • All the things you desire are right in front of you.

  • All the things you desire are right in front of you.

  • Why do you desire this, this man still?

  • Women desire one thing above all else.

  • Later I will provide you with the instructions you desire.

  • "Every fiber in his being desired her.

  • Mrs. Pankhurst is one of those who desires women to be given the franchise.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I desire to travel the world and experience new cultures.

Synonyms

to want
vsto desire
1.0

To wish to have or do something

is more general and milder not a strong intense urge
to long
vsto desire
114 4.5

To want something very much and keep wanting it

is the common strong wish but not necessarily persistent over time
to aspire
vsto desire
106 4.1

To want very much to achieve an important goal

is the common strong wish rather than a goal-driven ambition to achieve
to crave
vsto desire
103 3.8

To want something very much

is the general strong wish rather than an almost overwhelming urge
to yearn
vsto desire
92 4.9

To want something very much when you cannot have it

is a strong want but not focused on absence or difficulty
to covet
vsto desire
39 6.7

To want something very much, especially something someone else has

is the general strong wish rather than aiming at someone else's property
to lust
vsto desire
  • NSFW
30 6.3

To want something very strongly, often something forbidden

is the general strong want without the focus on forbidden or taboo objects
to pine for
vsto desire
17 6.7

To feel very sad and want someone or something a lot

is the general strong wish but without the strong sad emotional tone
to thirst
vsto desire
8 5.2

To have a strong wish for something

is the basic strong want and is not tied to figurative usage
to hanker
vsto desire
5 7.4

To want something very much for a long time

is the simple strong wish rather than a repeatedly returning urge
to yen
vsto desire
8.3

To want someone or something very much

is the general strong wish rather than a recurring personal craving

Compounds

9 3.8

A strong wish to have sex with another person

A strong wish to learn new things about the world

How Strongly

to obsess
304 5.5
to crave
103 3.8
to yearn
92 4.9
to long
114 4.5
to desire
446 1.6
to want
1.0
wish
474 1.0

Surface Forms

desire infinitive
desired past
desired past participle
desiring present participle
desires third person singular

Etymology

The verb desire comes from the Latin desiderare, which once meant something like 'to wish on a star'. So, to desire is to want or wish for something strongly.