desperately

desperately — adverb

1. to an extreme degree, especially when describing something difficult, unpleasant

1.adverbB1
Definition

to an extreme degree, especially when describing something difficult, unpleasant, or serious — for example, being desperately ill, desperately poor, or desperately short of something needed.

Example

The clinic was desperately short of clean water and basic supplies after the earthquake.

collocation: desperately short of [sth]

Mert felt desperately lonely during his first winter away from home.

collocation: desperately lonely

Common collocations
  • desperately poor
  • desperately ill
  • desperately lonely
  • desperately short of
  • desperately overcrowded
  • desperately sad
  • desperately unhappy
Synonyms
  • extremely

    neutral in tone; works with both positive and negative adjectives, whereas desperately is limited to negative contexts

  • terribly

    similar negative connotation but slightly less intense and more informal

  • awfully

    informal; common in everyday speech but not used in formal writing

Antonyms
  • slightly

    opposite on the intensity scale; indicates a small degree

  • mildly

    suggests a weak or gentle degree, the opposite of extreme

Grammar Patterns

desperately + [adjective describing a bad/difficult situation]

Usage Note

Commonly modifies adjectives and a few participles that describe negative conditions (ill, poor, lonely, short, overcrowded). Unlike very or extremely, desperately carries a connotation that the situation is severe enough to cause real suffering or danger.

Common Mistakes

I am desperately happy about my promotion.
I am incredibly happy about my promotion.
desperately usually pairs with negative or difficult situations, not positive ones.

2. describing actions driven by extreme fear or hopelessness, where someone will tr

2.adverbB2
Definition

describing actions driven by extreme fear or hopelessness, where someone will try every possible option to avoid disaster — for example, desperately searching for something lost or desperately trying to escape danger.

Example

Sivan desperately searched every room for her missing passport before the flight.

collocation: desperately searched for

With the house full of smoke, the family desperately tried to find a way out.

collocation: desperately tried to

Common collocations
  • desperately searched for
  • desperately tried to
  • desperately needed
  • desperately wanted
  • desperately fought
  • desperately grabbed
  • desperately called
Synonyms
  • frantically

    emphasises hurried, disorganised action caused by worry; less extreme than desperately

  • hopelessly

    focuses on the lack of hope rather than the urgent action itself

  • wildly

    suggests uncontrolled, reckless movements without the emotional depth of despair

Antonyms
  • calmly

    the opposite of acting in a state of fear or urgency

  • coolly

    suggests controlled, unemotional behaviour under pressure

Grammar Patterns

desperately + [verb of action done in fear or hopelessness]

Usage Note

Describes the urgent, fearful manner of an action, not the intensity of a feeling. Use this sense when the sentence includes a physical action (search, call, grab, wave, try) performed under pressure, rather than a static state (ill, poor, lonely).

Common Mistakes

I desperately need a cup of coffee this morning.
I desperately grabbed the railing to stop myself from falling.
needing coffee is everyday exaggeration, not true despair. Reserve this sense for genuinely dangerous or hopeless situations.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words can intensify an adjective, but desperately is the most restricted. Extremely is neutral — it fits any register and any emotional tone ('extremely hot,' 'extremely kind'). Terribly carries a negative slant ('terribly sad') but can be used lightly in British English ('I'm terribly sorry'). Awfully is conversational and informal, common in daily speech but rare in formal writing. Desperately is the strongest — it not only intensifies but also implies that the condition is so severe it causes suffering or danger ('desperately ill,' 'desperately poor'). Use desperately only when the situation is genuinely serious; for everyday exaggeration choose extremely or terribly instead. For example: 'The soup was extremely hot' (neutral fact) vs. 'The refugees were desperately hungry' (life-threatening condition).

extremely ↗terribly ↗awfully ↗desperately ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • desperately in need of
  • desperately in love with

Prepositions

  • for (desperately searching for, desperately waiting for)

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Desperately comes from the Latin verb desperare, meaning 'to lose all hope.' Desperare was formed from de- (meaning 'away, without') and sperare (meaning 'to hope'). It passed into Old French as desperer, then into Middle English as desperate, and the adverb desperately appeared in the 1500s. The two modern senses developed naturally: if you have lost hope, your situation is extremely bad (Sense 1), and you will act without caring about the risks (Sense 2).