Cool MateDesire vs Feel like
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Desire
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Feel like
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Desire
| Desire | Feel like | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈzaɪə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈzaɪər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //fiːl laɪk//🇺🇸 //fil laɪk// |
| Meaning | A strong wish for something. | to have a particular emotion or desire |
| Example | Her desire to travel the world consumed her thoughts daily. | I feel like going for a walk today. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | burning, deep, fervent, feel, harbour/harbor, have, desire for, an object of desire, burning, deep, fervent, feel, harbour/harbor, have, desire for, an object of desire | feel like going, feel like doing, feel like eating, feel like talking, feel like relaxing |
| Antonyms | dislike, aversion, indifference | dislike, refuse, avoid |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'want' — 'desire' is stronger., Using 'desire' without an object — it needs something to be desired., Misplacing the stress in pronunciation. | Confusing with 'feel as if', Using with a full infinitive instead of gerund, Omitting 'like' in some phrases |
| Usage notes | Used in both spoken and written English. It's appropriate in neutral contexts but might feel too strong or formal in casual conversations. Phrases like 'a desire to travel' are common. | Often used casually to express desires or mood. Less formal than 'wish to' or 'would like to'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Desire vs Feel like
What's the difference between Desire and Feel like?
Desire: A strong wish for something. Feel like: to have a particular emotion or desire
Which is more common: Desire and Feel like?
Desire is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Desire: Her desire to travel the world consumed her thoughts daily. Feel like: I feel like going for a walk today.
Can I use Desire and Feel like interchangeably?
Not always. Desire and Feel like are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.