desire
desires
desiring
desired
Desire means to wish or want strongly. Regular verb: desire-desired-desired.
Meanings
- To wish for strongly
- To want
- To express a wish
Common Collocations
desire for
desired outcome
heart's desire
leave much to be desired
burning desire
Tip for Learners
Leave much to be desired means to be unsatisfactory. Desire is stronger and more formal than want.
Present Simple
| I | desire |
| you | desire |
| he/she/it | desires |
| we | desire |
| they | desire |
Examples - Present Simple
- I desire peace and happiness in life.
- You desire success more than anything.
- He desires recognition for his efforts.
- We desire a better future for our children.
- They desire freedom above all else.
Present Continuous
| I | am desiring |
| you | are desiring |
| he/she/it | is desiring |
| we | are desiring |
| they | are desiring |
Examples - Present Continuous
- I am desiring nothing but rest right now.
- You are desiring something unattainable.
- She is desiring a change of scenery.
- We are desiring new opportunities.
- They are desiring immediate results.
Present Perfect
| I | have desired |
| you | have desired |
| he/she/it | has desired |
| we | have desired |
| they | have desired |
Examples - Present Perfect
- I have desired this opportunity my whole life.
- You have desired success for years.
- He has desired the position since joining.
- We have desired peace in the region.
- They have desired change for generations.
Present Perfect Continuous
| I | have been desiring |
| you | have been desiring |
| he/she/it | has been desiring |
| we | have been desiring |
| they | have been desiring |
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been desiring a vacation for months.
- You have been desiring recognition for years.
- She has been desiring this role forever.
- We have been desiring improvement for ages.
- They have been desiring freedom for centuries.
Past Simple
| I | desired |
| you | desired |
| he/she/it | desired |
| we | desired |
| they | desired |
Examples - Past Simple
- I desired nothing more than to see her again.
- You desired the promotion desperately.
- He desired fame and fortune.
- We desired a peaceful resolution.
- They desired independence from the empire.
Past Continuous
| I | was desiring |
| you | were desiring |
| he/she/it | was desiring |
| we | were desiring |
| they | were desiring |
Examples - Past Continuous
- I was desiring change when it finally came.
- You were desiring something different.
- She was desiring adventure during those years.
- We were desiring improvement before the reform.
- They were desiring freedom before the revolution.
Past Perfect
| I | had desired |
| you | had desired |
| he/she/it | had desired |
| we | had desired |
| they | had desired |
Examples - Past Perfect
- I had desired this for years before achieving it.
- You had desired success before finding it.
- He had desired the role before being offered it.
- We had desired peace before the treaty.
- They had desired independence before the war.
Past Perfect Continuous
| I | had been desiring |
| you | had been desiring |
| he/she/it | had been desiring |
| we | had been desiring |
| they | had been desiring |
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been desiring change for years.
- You had been desiring recognition for decades.
- She had been desiring adventure for ages.
- We had been desiring reform for generations.
- They had been desiring freedom forever.
Future Simple
| I | will desire |
| you | will desire |
| he/she/it | will desire |
| we | will desire |
| they | will desire |
Examples - Future Simple
- I will desire nothing but your happiness.
- You will desire more once you achieve this.
- He will desire continued success.
- We will desire lasting peace.
- They will desire even greater things.
Future Continuous
| I | will be desiring |
| you | will be desiring |
| he/she/it | will be desiring |
| we | will be desiring |
| they | will be desiring |
Examples - Future Continuous
- I will be desiring rest after the project.
- You will be desiring new challenges.
- She will be desiring fresh opportunities.
- We will be desiring growth perpetually.
- They will be desiring advancement always.
Future Perfect
| I | will have desired |
| you | will have desired |
| he/she/it | will have desired |
| we | will have desired |
| they | will have desired |
Examples - Future Perfect
- I will have desired this my whole life.
- You will have desired success for decades.
- He will have desired recognition forever.
- We will have desired change for generations.
- They will have desired freedom for centuries.
Future Perfect Continuous
| I | will have been desiring |
| you | will have been desiring |
| he/she/it | will have been desiring |
| we | will have been desiring |
| they | will have been desiring |
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
- I will have been desiring peace for years.
- You will have been desiring success forever.
- She will have been desiring this opportunity her whole life.
- We will have been desiring improvement for ages.
- They will have been desiring freedom for generations.