What does desirous mean?
"Desirous" is a formal adjective meaning feeling or showing desire — that is, wanting something strongly. It describes the person or party experiencing the wish, rather than the thing wished for, and it typically appears in the pattern "desirous of" followed by a noun or gerund, as in "desirous of change," or occasionally with a "that" clause. The word belongs chiefly to formal registers: legal drafting, diplomatic communiqués, official reports, and elevated prose all favor it, while ordinary conversation prefers simpler words like "eager," "keen," or "wanting." Its tone is neutral to positive, implying earnest aspiration rather than greed. A useful companion word in precise writing, it lets authors distinguish clearly between the wanter (desirous) and the wanted (desired), a subtlety especially valuable in legal and contractual language where ambiguity matters.
adjectiveFeeling or showing a strong desire for something; wanting to have or do something.
- Feeling or expressing desire for something; eager to obtain or do something (usually followed by 'of' or an infinitive).
"The committee was desirous of reaching a decision before the end of the month."
"She was desirous of furthering her education abroad."
"Both parties were desirous that the negotiations conclude swiftly."
"Desirous of" is a favorite phrase of legal and diplomatic documents — it's how lawyers say "wanting" while wearing a suit.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of desirous
"Desirous" comes from Old French "desiros," derived from the verb "desirer" (to desire), which itself traces back to Latin "desiderare," meaning to long for or miss something. It entered English in the Middle English period and has retained its formal register since. It shares its Latin root with related English words such as "desire," "desirable," and "desideratum."
Related word forms
How desirous is actually used
Formal and somewhat old-fashioned in everyday speech; common in legal, official, and literary contexts. It is almost always followed by 'of' + noun/gerund, or by 'that' + clause.
Easily confused with desirous
"Desired" is the past tense of the verb desire (something wanted by someone), while "desirous" is an adjective describing the person who feels the desire.