How to Use desire in a Sentence

desire

1 of 2 verb
  • She knew that men still desired her.
  • He desired her approval more than anything.
  • The apartment has modern amenities, a great location—everything you could desire.
  • Top with the berries and a bit more lemon juice if desired.
    Sarah Fritsche, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Apr. 2018
  • It's packed with all the looks your heart could desire.
    Deanna Pai, Glamour, 6 July 2017
  • While there’s a lot to love about the Air, there is still a lot to be desired.
    Joanna Stern, WSJ, 6 Nov. 2018
  • Send the message to those who desire to do the same: Speech is free.
    Jim Vertuno, USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2022
  • Top with cilantro and serve with rice and naan if desired.
    Joy Cho, Good Housekeeping, 8 Aug. 2023
  • Remove the sides of the spring form pan, slice and serve with fresh berries, if desired.
    Claire Perez, Sun-Sentinel.com, 30 Mar. 2018
  • So be sure to save a bit of fresh dressing to serve with the meal if desired.
    Casey Barber, CNN, 15 May 2023
  • The flavor was good; but the look had little to be desired!
    Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2023
  • Glue a bow to the bottom center of the wreath; dust with faux snow if desired.
    Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Oct. 2023
  • That was a time when local wines left a lot to be desired.
    Barry Blitt, The Hive, 23 Dec. 2017
  • Top with cilantro, red onion, Thai basil, and green onions, as desired.
    Maya Wilson, Alaska Dispatch News, 27 Sep. 2017
  • Remove the pan from the heat, taste, and season with salt, if desired.
    Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2019
  • If desired, skip the bread and serve the sausage and peppers over rice or pasta.
    Jeanmarie Brownson, chicagotribune.com, 29 Jan. 2018
  • The league title is arguably the trophy the club desires the most.
    Zayn Nabbi, CNN, 6 Feb. 2024
  • Serve with rice or toast, and, if desired, fresh cilantro, lime wedges or jalapeño.
    Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 26 Dec. 2019
  • The title and the form of this painting’s posture leave echoes of flesh and desire hanging in the air.
    Cate McQuaid, BostonGlobe.com, 4 July 2023
  • If the soup is too thick, add more chicken broth as desired.
    Maya Wilson, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Jan. 2018
  • Check out these 20 titles for all the spring vibes your heart might desire.
    Carson Blackwelder, Country Living, 21 Feb. 2023
  • Taste the dressing on a piece of kale and add extra lemon juice, if desired.
    Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2023
  • Top each portion with a squirt or two of Sriracha, if desired.
    Joe Yonan, Houston Chronicle, 9 Apr. 2018
  • Taste and add more salt and pepper or more herbs, if desired.
    Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 14 June 2018
  • Whether that's always desired is, of course, the question.
    Anna Bader, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2023
  • Use a tea strainer or tea ball to contain the herbs if desired.
    Diane Hoffmaster, Treehugger, 22 June 2023
  • First, reheat the beans with a glug of olive oil, one bay leaf, a pinch of cumin and, if desired, some red chile flakes.
    Mahira Rivers, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023
  • On top of that, KU’s defense left a lot to be desired — the Bears shot a blistering 55.2% from the field.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 2 Mar. 2024
  • The hot dogs are always served plain for diners to dress as desired.
    Larry Olmsted, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2018
  • Trim excess fat from the meat if desired, and slice as desired, in large chunks or slices, to serve.
    The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2023
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desire

2 of 2 noun
  • They expressed a desire to go with us.
  • They have a desire to have children.
  • The magazine tries to attend to the needs and desires of its readers.
  • Both sides feel a real desire for peace.
  • He was overcome with desire for her.
  • His decisions are guided by his desire for land.
  • Desire is a common theme in music and literature.
  • But the desire for it to — that’s what this song is about.
    Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 21 July 2023
  • Shock — or the desire to shock — is hard to wean off of.
    Andy O'Connor, SPIN, 13 Jan. 2023
  • The desire comes from both the viewers and the makers and the studios.
    Jake Coyle, ajc, 3 Nov. 2021
  • Again, this is part of a desire for the world to be simple.
    Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 6 July 2020
  • Because part of you, as an artist, has a desire for the art to be seen.
    Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
  • The moon’s clash with Mars inclines you to put your desires first.
    USA TODAY, 10 May 2023
  • At the same time, the novel speaks back to this desire for catharsis.
    Will Boast, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2018
  • Spend some time alone with your own thoughts, dreams, and desires.
    Jacqueline Tempera, Women's Health, 30 June 2023
  • Her desire to run for office grown in the past few years.
    Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 13 July 2020
  • Marked by strong vocals, their songs speak of love and desire and the search for home.
    Andrew Dansby, Houston Chronicle, 11 July 2018
  • She was born out of my desire and need to be a brave woman.
    Harper's BAZAAR, 29 May 2023
  • This movie talks about that, about the human desire to feel seen.
    Yolanda MacHado, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2022
  • There is nothing new about the desire to shape our dreams.
    Michael W. Clune, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Mar. 2022
  • The desire for and pursuit of whiter teeth is nothing new.
    Marci Robin, Allure, 1 Apr. 2022
  • Well, there was some desire to peel her 6-foot-3 body from the mattress.
    Nick Moyle, ExpressNews.com, 8 Aug. 2020
  • Haven’t had the time or desire to try netting your own salmon this year?
    Steve Edwards, Anchorage Daily News, 5 July 2019
  • At the time, parents expressed a desire for the school to host a formal prom.
    Steve Schering, chicagotribune.com, 16 Apr. 2021
  • Around the age of 3, my world was made up of simple words and basic desires.
    Reem Kassis, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2023
  • One thing schools won’t have to worry about with Vardell is lack of desire.
    Mike Lefkow, The Mercury News, 29 July 2019
  • Yet the desire to be fixed—to find relief through love—remains.
    Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2020
  • There’s reason to be both wary and giddy about such a desire.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 25 May 2021
  • Bates has yet to sign his franchise tag and has spoken about his desire to not play on the tag.
    Kelsey Conway, The Enquirer, 26 July 2022
  • Cat was alone for the birth but thrilled to fulfill a lifelong desire for a daughter.
    Gale Hollandstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'desire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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