DESPERATE


Meaning of DESPERATE in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ despərət ]

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.

1.

If you are desperate , you are in such a bad situation that you are willing to try anything to change it.

Troops are needed to help get food into Kosovo where people are in desperate need...

He made a desperate attempt to hijack a plane.

ADJ

• des‧per‧ate‧ly

Thousands are desperately trying to leave their battered homes.

ADV : ADV with v

2.

If you are desperate for something or desperate to do something, you want or need it very much indeed.

They’d been married nearly four years and June was desperate to start a family...

People are desperate for him to do something.

ADJ : v-link ADJ , usu ADJ to-inf , ADJ for n

• des‧per‧ate‧ly

He was a boy who desperately needed affection.

ADV : ADV with v

3.

A desperate situation is very difficult, serious, or dangerous.

India’s United Nations ambassador said the situation is desperate...

= dire

ADJ

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Английский словарь Коллинз COBUILD для изучающих язык на продвинутом уровне.