desirably

IPA/dɪˈzaɪə.rə.bli/
IPA/dɪˈzaɪr.ə.bli/

desirably — adverb

1. so as to seem good, useful, or worth wanting to most people

1.adverbC1
Definition

so as to seem good, useful, or worth wanting to most people

Example

Amira's new flat is desirably close to both her office and the train station.

desirably + adjective (close) to praise a wanted quality

Renata's small garden was desirably quiet, with no traffic noise from the busy road.

desirably + adjective describing a pleasant feature

Common collocations
  • desirably located
  • desirably situated
  • desirably priced
  • desirably close
Synonyms
  • attractively

    stresses appeal to the eye or taste rather than usefulness

  • favourably

    stresses a good or advantageous outcome

  • advantageously

    more formal; focuses on practical benefit or gain

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

desirably + adjective

desirably + past participle

Usage Note

Most often placed directly before an adjective or a past participle such as 'located', 'priced', or 'situated', signalling that the quality is a welcome one. Far less common than the adjective 'desirable'.

Common Mistakes

The house is very desirably.
The house is very desirable.
use the adjective 'desirable' after 'be'; 'desirably' is an adverb and must modify an adjective or verb, not stand alone.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

These four adverbs all describe something happening in a welcome way, but they differ in focus. 'Desirably' is the broadest: it marks a quality as one that people generally want, often before words like 'located' or 'priced'. 'Attractively' narrows this to appeal — how pleasing something looks, sounds, or tastes, as in 'attractively decorated'. 'Favourably' points to a good outcome or judgement, as in 'the report spoke favourably of the plan'. 'Advantageously' is the most formal and stresses concrete benefit, often in business, as in 'the company was advantageously placed to win the contract'. Compare: a shop window can be 'attractively arranged', while the same shop may be 'desirably located' on a busy street and 'advantageously priced' below its rivals.

desirably ↗attractively ↗favourably ↗advantageously ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • desirably located
  • desirably situated
  • desirably priced

Prepositions

  • desirably close to
  • desirably near

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Formed in English by adding the adverb ending '-ly' to the adjective 'desirable', which itself came through Old French from the Latin verb 'desiderare', meaning to long for or wish for. So the word literally describes acting or being in a way that is wished for.