Desire: meaning, definitions and examples

Formal or neutral situations, often used in a broad range of contexts including professional settings, relationships, and personal aspirations.

• She had a strong desire to succeed in her career
• He expressed his desire to learn more about the subject

Neutral and general situations, often involving something one would like to happen or something hypothetical. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

• I wish I could travel the world
• She made a wish before blowing out the candles

Informal situations, used to describe an intense and often immediate want for something, usually related to food or addictive substances.

• She had a craving for chocolate ice cream
• After quitting smoking, he often had cravings

Situations involving deep and often melancholic emotions, typically related to something out of reach or in the past.

• He felt a deep longing for his childhood home
• She looked at the old photographs with a sense of longing

Situations involving strong, often persistent desires, typically emotional or existential in nature. It can have a somewhat poetic or old-fashioned tone.

• He felt a yearning for a simpler life
• There was a yearning in her eyes that spoke of unfulfilled dreams

Used in a formal or literary context to express a strong feeling of wanting something. Often used for deep or important wishes.

• He had a burning desire to succeed.
• The desire for freedom drove them forward.

Often used to express a strong physical or emotional need for something, especially when it's intense or insatiable. Commonly used in the context of food or addictions.

• She craves chocolate every day.
• After a long day, he craved a bit of peace and quiet.

Used in a poetic or emotional context to express a deep, enduring longing or nostalgia for something, often something that is far away or unattainable.

• She longed for the days of her childhood.
• He longed for her embrace.

Used to express an intense, often melancholic longing for something, similar to 'long for', but can have a slightly stronger emotional intensity. Often used in romantic or nostalgic contexts.

• They yearn for a life of adventure.
• He yearned for her all these years.

A common and straightforward way to express a desire for something. Used in both formal and informal contexts.

• I want a new phone.
• She wants to travel the world.