What does desire mean?
Desire is one of the most fundamental words in English for expressing human motivation. As a noun, it names a strong feeling of wanting something — whether that something is an object, an outcome, an experience, or another person. As a verb, it means to want or wish for something intensely. Desire sits somewhere between casual preference and outright obsession: it is stronger than a wish and more considered than an impulse. It appears constantly in literature, philosophy, psychology, and everyday speech ('a desire for change', 'a burning desire to win'). Its tone is generally neutral to positive, though the word can also refer specifically to physical or romantic attraction when context makes this clear. Derived forms such as 'desirable' (worth wanting) and 'desirous' (feeling desire) extend its reach into description and judgment.
A strong feeling of wanting to have or do something.
"Her desire for knowledge led her to read voraciously."
To want or wish for something strongly.
"They desired peace above all else."
Used when referring to multiple distinct wants or wishes, especially in formal writing or discussion of someone's inner life.
"The novel explores the conflicting desires of its main characters."
The word 'desire' traces back to the Latin desiderare — possibly rooted in the phrase de sidere, 'from the stars,' as if longing were written in the stars themselves.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of desire
Desire comes from the Old French desirer, which in turn derives from the Latin desiderare, meaning 'to long for' or 'to feel the absence of'. A popular (though not universally accepted) folk etymology connects it to the phrase de sidere — 'from the stars' — suggesting that what we lack is written among the heavens. The word entered Middle English in the medieval period and has retained its core sense of strong wanting ever since. Cognate descendants of the same Latin root include 'desideratum' (something wanted or needed) and 'desiderium', a Latin borrowing used in English to mean an ardent longing.
Related word forms
How desire is actually used
Common in both formal and everyday registers. As a noun it often appears with prepositions like 'for' or 'to'. The sexual sense is context-dependent and can carry a more intense or intimate connotation.
Easily confused with desire
'Desert' (as a verb) means to abandon, while 'desire' means to want something — they differ in both spelling and meaning despite a similar look.