desperately
DEHSP-ruht-lee
Desperately (adverb) means In a way that shows urgent need or a lack of hope; extremely badly. Example: “The lost hikers desperately waved at the helicopter passing high above them.”
adverb
1
In a way that shows urgent need or a lack of hope; extremely badly.
"The lost hikers desperately waved at the helicopter passing high above them."
"The team desperately needed a win to stay in the tournament."
"She was desperately searching for her lost passport."
2
To an extreme or intense degree.
"The two sisters were desperately unhappy about moving to another town."
"He was desperately in love with her."
"The plot is desperately dull."
How to use desperately
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe adverb form of "desperate" — used to intensify how badly something is needed or felt.
Common pairings
desperately need
desperately want
desperately trying to
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more desperately
- Superlative
- most desperately
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The lost hikers _____ waved at the helicopter passing high above them.
Related words
Rhymes for desperately
See all rhymes for desperately →Frequently asked questions
What does “desperately” mean?
The word “desperately” means in a way that shows urgent need or a lack of hope; extremely badly. In plain terms, the adverb form of "desperate" — used to intensify how badly something is needed or felt.
How do you pronounce “desperately”?
“Desperately” is pronounced DEHSP-ruht-lee (/ˈdɛsp(ə)ɹətli/ in IPA).
How do you use “desperately” in a sentence?
Here is “desperately” used in a sentence: “The team desperately needed a win to stay in the tournament.”
What part of speech is “desperately”?
“Desperately” is an adverb.
Is “desperately” a common word?
“Desperately” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “desperately” have?
“Desperately” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a way that shows urgent need or a lack of hope; extremely badly.
Does desperately always suggest hopelessness?
No. Alongside its core sense of urgent need or fading hope, as in "desperately searching for survivors," desperately also works as a plain intensifier meaning extremely, as in "desperately unhappy" or "she desperately wanted the job."
What is the difference between desperately and urgently?
Urgently is about time: something must happen quickly. Desperately adds emotion, implying deep need or near-hopelessness, so "desperately needs help" sounds more anguished than "urgently needs help."
What is the difference between desperately and disparately?
Desperately means with urgent need or to an extreme degree. Disparately, from the adjective disparate, means in ways that are markedly different from one another. The two look and sound similar but are unrelated, and writers occasionally type one in place of the other.
Which words commonly go with desperately?
Desperately most often modifies verbs of wanting and seeking: desperately need, want, try, seek, and hope. Before adjectives it acts as an intensifier, as in desperately poor, desperately short of time, and desperately unhappy.
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