Definition of “desire” - English Dictionary

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“desire” in English

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desireverb [ T not continuous ]

uk ​ /dɪˈzaɪər/ us ​ /dɪˈzaɪr/ formal

desire verb [ T not continuous ] (SEXUAL)

› to have a strong sexual attraction to someone

Idiom(s)

sb's heart's desire

desirenoun

uk ​ /dɪˈzaɪər/ us ​ /dɪˈzaɪr/

desire noun (WANT)

B2 [ C or U ] a strong feeling that you want something:

I certainly have no desire to have children.
There is a strong desire for peace among the people.
He needed to satisfy his desire for revenge.
[ + to infinitive ] She had a burning/strong desire to go back to her home country before she died.
Several people have expressed a desire to see the report.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

desire noun (SEXUAL NEED)

› [ U ] formal the strong feeling that you want to have sex with someone:

sexual desire
Beatrice was the object of Dante's desire.

(Definition of “desire” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“desire” in American English

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desirenoun [ C/U ]

us ​ /dɪˈzɑɪər/

› a strong feeling of wanting something, or something you want:

[ U ] He claims to have no desire for wealth.
[ C ] She expressed a desire to speak with her attorney.
[ C ] Teenagers often have a burning desire to look older.
[ C ] My desires in life are few.

desireverb [ T ]

us ​ /dɪˈzɑɪər/

› to want something strongly:

They don’t really seem to desire change.

(Definition of “desire” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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