des ‧ per ‧ ate S3 W3 /ˈdesp ə rət, ˈdesp ə rɪt/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: desperatus , past participle of desperare ; ⇨ ↑ despair 2 ]
1 . willing to do anything to change a very bad situation, and not caring about danger:
I had no money left and was desperate.
Time was running out and we were getting desperate.
the missing teenager’s desperate parents
desperate with
She was desperate with fear.
2 . needing or wanting something very much
desperate for
The team is desperate for a win.
I was desperate for a cigarette.
desperate to do something
He was desperate to get a job.
3 . a desperate situation is very bad or serious:
a desperate shortage of doctors
We’re in desperate need of help.
4 . a desperate action is something that you only do because you are in a very bad situation
desperate attempt/bid/effort
a desperate attempt to escape
We resorted to desperate measures.
desperate battle/struggle/fight
a desperate struggle to rescue the men
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 4)
■ nouns
▪ a desperate attempt
Brian’s parents agreed to the treatment in a desperate attempt to save his life.
▪ a desperate bid (=attempt)
He was standing in the middle of the road in a desperate bid to get help.
▪ a desperate effort
A desperate effort was made to reach an agreement.
▪ a desperate struggle/battle/fight
The climbers faced a desperate struggle to reach safety.
▪ desperate measures (=extreme things you do to stop a problem or bad situation)
They had to take desperate measures to stop the spread of the disease.
▪ a desperate search
The female bear has left her young in a desperate search for food.
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THESAURUS
■ very bad
▪ serious very bad – used about problems, accidents, illnesses, or crimes:
Violent crime is a serious problem in and around the capital.
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The boy was taken to hospital with serious head injuries.
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Fortunately, the damage to the car was not serious.
▪ severe very serious – used about problems, injuries, and illnesses:
He suffered severe injuries in a car crash.
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The problem became so severe that they had to bring water in from other countries.
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severe epilepsy
▪ grave used about a situation that is very serious and worrying, especially because it is dangerous or seems likely to get worse:
A thick fog descended and I knew that we were in grave danger.
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The situation is grave – war now seems inevitable.
▪ acute used about an illness, problem, or situation that has become very serious or dangerous, and needs to be dealt with quickly:
She was taken to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis.
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In San Diego, the shortage of skilled workers is acute.
▪ desperate used about a situation or problem that is very serious or dangerous, especially because a lot of people need urgent help:
The situation is desperate – people here need aid before the harsh winter sets in.
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The hospital is full of people in desperate need of medical attention.
▪ critical used about a situation that is very serious and dangerous and might get worse suddenly:
In 1991, the food supply situation became critical.
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Eight people were killed and four are still in a critical condition.
▪ life-threatening used about a situation, illness, or condition in which someone could die:
Her child had a potentially life-threatening illness.
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The situation was not life-threatening, but it was very worrying.
▪ be a matter of life and death spoken to be extremely serious – used when a situation is very urgent or important:
For people living with HIV, getting the right treatment is literally a matter of life and death.