desire Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
  2. noun an inclination to want things
    • a man of many desires
  3. noun something that is desired
  4. verb feel or have a desire for; want strongly
    want.
    • I want to go home now
    • I want my own room
  5. verb expect and wish
    trust; hope.
    • I trust you will behave better from now on
    • I hope she understands that she cannot expect a raise
  6. verb express a desire for

WordNet

De*sire" transitive verb
Etymology
F. désirer, L. desiderare, origin uncertain, perh. fr. de- + sidus star, constellation, and hence orig., to turn the eyes from the stars. Cf. Consider, and Desiderate, and see Sidereal.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Desired ; present participle & verbal noun Desiring
Definitions
  1. To long for; to wish for earnestly; to covet.
    Neither shall any man desire thy land. Ex. xxxiv. 24.
    Ye desire your child to live. Tennyson.
  2. To express a wish for; to entreat; to request.
    Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? 2 Kings iv. 28.
    Desire him to go in; trouble him no more. Shak.
  3. To require; to demand; to claim. Obs.
    A doleful case desires a doleful song. Spenser.
  4. To miss; to regret. Obs.
    She shall be pleasant while she lives, and desired when she dies. Jer. Taylor.
    Syn. -- To long for; hanker after; covet; wish; ask; request; solicit; entreat; beg. -- To Desire, Wish. In desire the feeling is usually more eager than in wish. "I wish you to do this" is a milder form of command than "I desire you to do this," though the feeling prompting the injunction may be the same C. J. Smith.
De*sire" noun
Etymology
F. désir, fr. désirer. See Desire, v. t.
Definitions
  1. 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.
    Unspeakable desire to see and know. Milton.
  2. An expressed wish; a request; petition.
    And slowly was my mother brought To yield consent to my desire. Tennyson.
  3. Anything which is desired; an object of longing.
    The Desire of all nations shall come. Hag. ii. 7.
  4. Excessive or morbid longing; lust; appetite.
  5. Grief; regret. Obs. Chapman. Syn. -- Wish; appetency; craving; inclination; eagerness; aspiration; longing.

Webster 1913