desire

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noun

/dɪˈzaɪə(r)/

singular	desire
plural	desires

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Related dictionary definitions

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1
[countable/uncountable] a strong feeling of wanting to have or to do something
ordinary human needs and desires
a desire to do something:
his desire to join the army
desire for:
their desire for peace and stability in Europe
have no desire for something/to do something:
Young people have no desire to work for the government.
desire that:
the leaders' desire that neither country should lose any territory
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of desire
Collocations: desire
Collocations
desire1
▪ express, feel, fulfil, have, indicate, satisfy, show
2
[uncountable] formal a strong feeling that you want to have sex with someone
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of desire

Get It Right!: desire

Get it right: desire

When the noun desire is followed by a verb, use the infinitive (not the pattern 'desire of doing something'):

✗ A child without a 'real' father might have a desire of knowing who his father was.

✓ A child without a 'real' father might have a desire to know who his father was.

✗ Our parents and grandparents had the desire of creating a better world for future generations.

✓ Our parents and grandparents had the desire to create a better world for future generations.

When the noun desire is followed by another noun, use the pattern desire for something (not 'desire of something'):

✗ It's not money itself that causes evil, it's the desire of money.

✓ It's not money itself that causes evil, it's the desire for money.

✗ Hatred and the desire of revenge brought one man to kill his brother.

✓ Hatred and the desire for revenge brought one man to kill his brother.

This is the British English definition of desire. View American English definition of desire.

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