/ ˈdespərət; NAmE / adjective
1.
feeling or showing that you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others :
The prisoners grew increasingly desperate.
Stores are getting desperate after two years of poor sales.
Somewhere out there was a desperate man, cold, hungry, hunted.
I heard sounds of a desperate struggle in the next room.
2.
[ usually before noun ] ( of an action ) giving little hope of success; tried when everything else has failed :
a desperate bid for freedom
She clung to the edge in a desperate attempt to save herself.
His increasing financial difficulties forced him to take desperate measures .
Doctors were fighting a desperate battle to save the little girl's life.
3.
[ not usually before noun ] ~ (for sth) | ~ (to do sth) needing or wanting sth very much :
He was so desperate for a job he would have done anything.
I was absolutely desperate to see her.
( informal )
I'm desperate for a cigarette.
4.
( of a situation ) extremely serious or dangerous :
The children are in desperate need of love and attention.
They face a desperate shortage of clean water.
► des·per·ate·ly adverb :
desperately ill / unhappy / lonely
He took a deep breath, desperately trying to keep calm.
They desperately wanted a child.
She looked desperately around for a weapon.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense in despair ): from Latin desperatus deprived of hope, past participle of desperare , from de- down from + sperare to hope.