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

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# dire

adjective (dire, direr, direst)

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

## Everyday

1. Dire means very serious or terrible, often dangerous. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dire/#m1)
2. Dire needs or situations are extremely urgent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dire/#m2)
3. (UK, informal) Dire means very bad or of low quality. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dire/#m3)

### In the lessons

In the news and in stories, dire describes disasters, warnings and danger: «dire warning», «in dire need», «dire straits» (a very difficult situation). In UK everyday talk, a film or a meal can be «dire» meaning awful. Common phrases: «in dire need of», «dire straits», «dire consequences», «dire warning», «absolutely dire».

### Examples

- The village was in dire need of clean water after the flood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dire/#x1)
- The scientists gave a dire warning about the melting ice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dire/#x2)
- If you break the rules, there will be dire consequences, the wizard said. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dire/#x3)
- After losing his job, the family was in dire straits. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dire/#x4)
- That film was absolutely dire — I fell asleep. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dire/#x5)
- The weather was dire all weekend. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dire/#x6)
- The lost sailors were in a dire situation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dire/#x7)
- It was a high compliment to Peter that at that dire moment their thoughts turned to him. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dire/#x8)

### Note

Comparative direr and superlative direst are rare; people say «more dire». Do not confuse with «dyer» (someone who dyes cloth). The informal «dire» meaning «rubbish» is mostly British.

## On Mova

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