desire

The word “desire” means to want something strongly. In plain terms, a strong want or wish, or the act of strongly wanting something.

“Desire” is pronounced dih-ZEYE-uh (/dɪˈzaɪɹ/ in IPA).

Here is “desire” used in a sentence: “She desired nothing more than a quiet life by the sea.”

Words with a similar meaning to “desire” include want-to, ambition, appetite, appetition, aspiration and avidity.

The opposite of “desire” — its antonyms — are apathy, contempt, disinterest, distaste and hatred.

Depending on how it is used, “desire” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “desire” comes from Latin. From Old French desirer, from Latin desiderare, "to long for, to feel the want of" — possibly tied to sidus ("star"), as in longing for something once seen in the stars.

“Desire” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Both mean to wish for something, but desire is stronger and more intense than want. Want is everyday and can be mild — you want a cup of tea. Desire suggests a deeper, more emotional longing and often sounds more formal or passionate. All desiring is wanting, but not all wanting is desiring.

To an extent, yes. You cannot always stop a desire from arising, since strong wants can appear on their own. But you can choose how you respond — whether to act on it, delay it, or let it pass. Many traditions, from philosophy to psychology, focus on managing desire rather than erasing it.

Desire is closely tied to emotion but is better described as a strong motivational state — a powerful pull toward something you want. It often comes wrapped in feelings such as excitement, longing, or hope, and it drives people to act. So while not a pure emotion, it is deeply emotional.