desperately

[ˈdɛsp(ə)rətli]

desperately Definition

  • 1in a way that shows despair, hopelessness, or extreme need
  • 2with great urgency or intensity

Using desperately: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "desperately" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    She was desperately trying to find her lost keys.

  • Example

    He desperately needed a job to pay his bills.

  • Example

    The team was playing desperately to win the game.

  • Example

    I'm desperately sorry for what I said.

desperately Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for desperately

Phrases with desperately

  • used in advertisements by people who are looking for something they need very much

    Example

    Desperately seeking a new apartment in the city center.

  • when you are extremely desperate you need to take extreme actions

    Example

    I know it's not ideal, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

  • a situation that is very difficult or dangerous

    Example

    The refugees were in a desperate situation, with no food or shelter.

Origins of desperately

from desperate, from Latin 'desperatus', meaning 'given up, abandoned'

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Summary: desperately in Brief

The adverb 'desperately' [ˈdɛsp(ə)rətli] denotes a sense of despair, hopelessness, or extreme need. It can also indicate great urgency or intensity, as in 'The team was playing desperately to win the game.' Phrases like 'desperately seeking' and 'a desperate situation' highlight the extremity of the need, while the idiom 'desperate times call for desperate measures' suggests that extreme situations require extreme actions.

How do native speakers use this expression?