adv · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈdɛsp(ə)ɹətli/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:D EH1 S P ER0 AH0 T L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:D EH1 S P R AH0 T L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In a desperate manner; without regard to danger or safety; recklessly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
She desperately grabbed at the nearby branches as she heard the branch she was standing on start to snap.
I could desperately do with some coffee right now.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
extremely
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The race for silver medal was desperately close, they needed a photo finish to separate the runners.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adverb
Meaning 3
with great urgency
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
health care reform is needed urgently
the soil desperately needed potash
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: urgently
Antonyms: none provided
4
adverb
Meaning 4
in intense despair
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the child clung desperately to her mother
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English desperate Middle English -ly English -ly English desperately From desperate + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
24 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
desesperadament
— in a desperate manner
Chinese Mandarin:
拼命地
(pīnmìng de)
— in a desperate manner
Chinese Mandarin:
死命地
(sǐmìng de)
— in a desperate manner
Czech:
zoufale
— in a desperate manner
Danish:
desperat
— in a desperate manner
Danish:
fortvivlet
— in a desperate manner
Dutch:
wanhopig
— in a desperate manner
Esperanto:
malespere
— in a desperate manner
Finnish:
epätoivoisesti
— in a desperate manner
French:
désespérément
— in a desperate manner
Galician:
desesperadamente
— in a desperate manner
German:
verzweifelt
— in a desperate manner
Hebrew:
נואשות
(noashot)
— in a desperate manner
Hungarian:
kétségbeesetten
— in a desperate manner
Japanese:
必死になって
(hisshi ni natte)
— in a desperate manner
Norwegian Bokmål:
desperat
— in a desperate manner
Norwegian Nynorsk:
desperat
— in a desperate manner
Polish:
rozpaczliwie
— in a desperate manner
Polish:
desperacko
— in a desperate manner
Portuguese:
desesperadamente
— in a desperate manner
Russian:
отча́янно
(otčájanno)
— in a desperate manner
Spanish:
desesperadamente
— in a desperate manner
Ukrainian:
розпа́чливо
(rozpáčlyvo)
— in a desperate manner
Ukrainian:
відчайду́шно
(vidčajdúšno)
— in a desperate manner
