Desire
v.hopeful, thoughtfulformal
What it means
Want a valued outcome strongly enough for it to shape attention or action.
Reach for it when expressing a sincere wish without claiming that it will happen
Many residents desire a quieter street where children can cycle.
Choose between these
6- everyday
want
when plain direct language best suits the need
not when Want can sound casual or immediate and may undersell a considered desire.
- warm
hope for
when uncertainty and optimism are both important
not when Hope includes belief in possibility; desire only establishes that the outcome is wanted.
- warm
wish for
when hope is gentle and action may be outside one's control
not when Wishing can remain fanciful, while desire may actively guide choices.
- professional
seek
when active steps are already being taken toward the result
not when Seeking implies pursuit that may not exist in a private desire.
- formal
aspire to
when personal growth or achievement is the desired direction
not when Aspiration fits elevated future goals, not ordinary objects or comforts.
- literary
long for
when absence creates sustained emotional yearning
not when The intensity is excessive for a practical preference.
Said against
3- reject
- dislike
- avoid
It naturally appears in
3- deeply desire
They deeply desire a settlement that keeps both farms working.
- desire change
Young members desire change but still value the society's history.
- desire to learn
Applicants who desire to learn are welcome regardless of experience.
Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English verb, sense 1: want or wish for opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.