desire

[dɪˈzaɪər]

desire Definition

a strong feeling of wanting or wishing for something to happen or for something to be possessed by oneself.

Using desire: Examples

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

  • Example

    I have a strong desire to travel the world.

  • Example

    She had a burning desire to succeed in her career.

  • Example

    His desire for power led him to make unethical decisions.

  • Example

    The company's desire for profit sometimes comes at the expense of its employees.

desire Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for desire

Idioms Using desire

  • heart's desire

    one's deepest and most sincere wish

    Example

    Her heart's desire was to become a successful writer.

  • have a (good) mind to do something

    to feel inclined or tempted to do something

    Example

    I have a good mind to quit my job and travel the world.

  • people tend to think that others' situations are better than their own

    Example

    She thinks that moving to a new city will solve all her problems, but the grass is always greener on the other side.

Phrases with desire

  • an imaginary line that represents the most direct route between two points

    Example

    The new road was designed to follow the desire line of the pedestrians.

  • a path created by people walking on the same route over and over again, often in defiance of the official path

    Example

    The university campus had many desire paths that students used to get to class more quickly.

  • a very strong and intense desire

    Example

    He had a burning desire to become a professional athlete.

Origins of desire

from Old French 'desirer', from Latin 'desiderare', meaning 'long for, wish for'

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Summary: desire in Brief

The term 'desire' [dɪˈzaɪər] refers to a strong feeling of wanting or wishing for something. It can range from personal aspirations to material possessions, as in 'His desire for power led him to make unethical decisions.' 'Desire' extends into phrases like 'burning desire,' and idioms like 'heart's desire,' denoting one's deepest and most sincere wish.

How do native speakers use this expression?