desperate
DEHS-priht
Desperate (adjective) means willing to do almost anything because you urgently need something; driven by extreme need. Example: “Desperate for a place to sleep, they knocked on every door in the village.”
adjective
1
Willing to do almost anything because you urgently need something; driven by extreme need.
"Desperate for a place to sleep, they knocked on every door in the village."
"She grew desperate for cash after losing her job."
"The stranded hikers were desperate for water."
2
So serious or dangerous that there seems to be little hope; extremely dire.
"With the river rising fast and no help in sight, the villagers' plight looked desperate."
"Doctors described the patient's condition as desperate."
"The refugees faced a desperate situation with no shelter or food."
3
Reckless because you feel you have no other choice; willing to take drastic risks.
"Feeling desperate, the driver tried a risky overtake on a blind bend."
"He made a desperate attempt to save the sinking business."
"They took desperate measures to escape the flood."
How to use desperate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo badly in need, or so hopeless, that you'll take any risk.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "desperado" (an outlaw) — related in origin but a different word today.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
desperate for
desperate measures
a desperate attempt
grow desperate
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like desperate.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- desperates
- Comparative
- more desperate, desperater
- Superlative
- most desperate, desperatest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ for a place to sleep, they knocked on every door in the village.
Etymology
From Latin desperatus, "without hope" — built from de- ("without") and sperare ("to hope").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for desperate
See all rhymes for desperate →Frequently asked questions
What does “desperate” mean?
The word “desperate” means willing to do almost anything because you urgently need something; driven by extreme need. In plain terms, so badly in need, or so hopeless, that you'll take any risk.
How do you pronounce “desperate”?
“Desperate” is pronounced DEHS-priht (/ˈdɛs.p(ə.)ɹɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “desperate” in a sentence?
Here is “desperate” used in a sentence: “She grew desperate for cash after losing her job.”
What part of speech is “desperate”?
“Desperate” is an adjective.
Where does the word “desperate” come from?
The word “desperate” comes from Latin. From Latin desperatus, "without hope" — built from de- ("without") and sperare ("to hope").
Is “desperate” a common word?
“Desperate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “desperate” have?
“Desperate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: willing to do almost anything because you urgently need something; driven by extreme need.
What is the difference between "desperate" and "hopeless"?
"Hopeless" means there is no hope at all, while "desperate" describes the frantic, driven state of someone acting because they urgently need something despite little hope. A situation can feel desperate precisely because the person still wants a way out.
What is the difference between "desperate" and "eager"?
Both express strong wanting, but "eager" is a positive, keen enthusiasm, while "desperate" suggests anxious, urgent need driven by difficulty or lack. You are "eager" to start a fun trip but "desperate" to escape a bad situation.
What is the difference between "desperate" and "dire"?
"Dire" describes a situation that is extremely serious or urgent, while "desperate" can describe either such a situation or the frantic person reacting to it. You might say "dire circumstances" and "a desperate attempt" to escape them.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include desperate:
