des ‧ pe ‧ rate ‧ ly /ˈdesp ə rətli, ˈdesp ə rɪtli/ BrE AmE adverb
1 . in a desperate way:
The doctors tried desperately to save her life.
He looked round desperately for someone to help him.
2 . very or very much
desperately want/need
The crops desperately need rain.
desperately poor/ill/tired etc
He was desperately ill with a fever.
desperately unhappy/lonely/worried etc