adj
Uncommon
dire
DEYE-uh
Dire (adj) means Extremely serious or urgent, often warning of disaster. Example: “The country is in dire need of humanitarian aid.”
adj
1
Extremely serious or urgent, often warning of disaster.
"The country is in dire need of humanitarian aid."
"Doctors warned of dire consequences if she skipped treatment."
"The farmers face dire shortages if the rain does not arrive soon."
2
(informal) Extremely bad in quality.
"The film's reviews were absolutely dire."
"The food at that café was dire, so we left early."
"His singing was dire, but everyone clapped politely anyway."
How to use dire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery serious, urgent, or alarming — or, informally, just very bad.
Common pairings
dire consequences
dire need
dire straits
dire warning
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Word forms
- Comparative
- direr, more dire
- Superlative
- direst, most dire
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The country is in _____ need of humanitarian aid.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin dīrus, meaning "fearful" or "ominous."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for dire
See all rhymes for dire →Frequently asked questions
What does “dire” mean?
The word “dire” means extremely serious or urgent, often warning of disaster. In plain terms, very serious, urgent, or alarming — or, informally, just very bad.
How do you pronounce “dire”?
“Dire” is pronounced DEYE-uh (/ˈdaɪ̯ə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “dire” in a sentence?
Here is “dire” used in a sentence: “The country is in dire need of humanitarian aid.”
What part of speech is “dire”?
“Dire” is an adjective.
Where does the word “dire” come from?
The word “dire” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Latin dīrus, meaning "fearful" or "ominous.".
Is “dire” a common word?
“Dire” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dire” have?
“Dire” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely serious or urgent, often warning of disaster.
What is the difference between dire and severe?
Dire emphasizes urgency and impending disaster, often describing situations that demand immediate action, such as dire consequences or dire warnings. Severe describes intensity or harshness without necessarily implying the same sense of crisis or looming catastrophe.
What does dire mean in informal British usage?
In informal usage, especially in British English, dire can simply mean extremely bad in quality, such as a dire film or dire weather. This casual sense is milder than the formal meaning of dire as signaling serious danger or disaster.
What kinds of nouns commonly follow dire?
Dire frequently collocates with words like consequences, warning, straits, need, and situation, reflecting its core meaning of extreme seriousness or urgency. These set phrases, such as dire straits or dire need, are common in both spoken and written English.
