verb
C1
Advanced
detest
dih-TEHST
Detest (verb) means to hate something or someone intensely. Example: “I detest being kept waiting.”
verb
1
To hate something or someone intensely.
"Nurse Cramer had a cute nose and a radiant, blooming complexion dotted with fetching sprays of adorable freckles that Yossarian detested."
— Joseph Heller, The Soldier in White (1961)
"I detest being kept waiting."
"She detests dishonesty of any kind."
How to use detest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo loathe or strongly dislike something.
Common mistake
Stronger than "dislike" — reserve it for genuine, intense hatred rather than mild annoyance.
Common pairings
detest the idea of
absolutely detest
detest each other
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like detest.
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
- Third person singular
- detests
- Past tense
- detested
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I _____ being kept waiting.
Etymology
From Middle French détester, from Latin dētestor, literally "to call the gods to witness against" — from dē- + testor ("to testify"), the root behind "testify" and "testimony".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “detest” mean?
The word “detest” means to hate something or someone intensely. In plain terms, to loathe or strongly dislike something.
How do you pronounce “detest”?
“Detest” is pronounced dih-TEHST (/dɪˈtɛst/ in IPA).
How do you use “detest” in a sentence?
Here is “detest” used in a sentence: “I detest being kept waiting.”
What part of speech is “detest”?
“Detest” is a verb.
Where does the word “detest” come from?
The word “detest” comes from Latin. From Middle French détester, from Latin dētestor, literally "to call the gods to witness against" — from dē- + testor ("to testify"), the root behind "testify" and "testimony".
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include detest:
