desperately

/ˈdespərətli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdespərətli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈde-sp(ə-)rət-lē -spərt-/ (ame, mw)

desperately — adverb

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

1.副詞B1
釋義

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.

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • slightly

    opposite on the intensity scale; indicates a small degree

  • mildly

    suggests a weak or gentle degree, the opposite of extreme

文法句型

desperately + [adjective describing a bad/difficult situation]

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.副詞B2
釋義

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.

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • calmly

    the opposite of acting in a state of fear or urgency

  • coolly

    suggests controlled, unemotional behaviour under pressure

文法句型

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

用法筆記

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).

常見錯誤

❌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.