DESPERATE


Meaning of DESPERATE in English

/ 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.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.