Meaning of desperate In English

• 0 very serious or bad:

  • desperate poverty

  • a desperate shortage of food/supplies

  • The situation is desperate - we have no food, very little water and no medical supplies.

  • The earthquake survivors are in desperate need of help.

  • He has a desperate desire to succeed.

  • informal I'm in a desperate hurry.

• 1 needing or wanting something very much:

  • They are desperate for help.

  • UK humorous I'm desperate for a drink!

  • [ + to infinitive ] UK humorous He was desperate to tell someone his good news.

• 2 feeling that you have no hope and are ready to do anything to change the bad situation you are in:

  • The doctors made one last desperate attempt/effort to save the boy's life.

  • Desperate measures are needed to deal with the growing drug problem.

  • They made a desperate plea for help.

  • This man is desperate and should not be approached since he may have a gun.

• 3 showing a willingness to take any risk in order to change a bad or dangerous situation:

  • The ads are a desperate attempt to win last-minute votes.

  • desperate criminals

• 4 very serious or dangerous:

  • There’s a desperate shortage of medical supplies in the area.

  • The earthquake survivors are in desperate need of help.

• 5 having a very great need:

  • She was desperate for news of her family.

  • I’m desperate for some coffee.