[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/desperately/)

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# desperately

adverb (desperately)

«desperately» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Very much, so much it hurts: she desperately wanted a puppy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/#m1)
2. In a wild way, because things are bad and there is little hope: he swam desperately for the shore. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/#m2)
3. Extremely, very badly: they were desperately poor; it was desperately cold. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/#m3)

### In the lessons

Used in stories to show great need, fear or effort. In news: people desperately need help after a flood. In The Wind in the Willows Toad desperately wants motor cars; Mole runs desperately through the Wild Wood.

### Examples

- I desperately need a drink of water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/#x1)
- The kitten clung desperately to the branch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/#x2)
- Mole ran desperately through the Wild Wood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/#x3)
- She desperately wanted to win. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/#x4)
- The family were desperately poor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/#x5)
- He looked around desperately for his mum. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/#x6)
- Toad desperately wanted a motor car. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/#x7)
- We were desperately tired after the hike. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/#x8)
- And Pinocchio swam desperately with his arms, his body, his legs, his feet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/#x9)

### Note

Adverb of «desperate». Spelling trap: desp-E-rate (not desparate). Do not use it for small wishes in careful writing; it means a very strong need or a bad situation.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «desperately» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desperately/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«desperately» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/desperately.html) on Mova free.