Cool MateDesire vs Hopes
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Desire
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Hopes
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Desire | Hopes | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈzaɪə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈzaɪər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //həʊps//🇺🇸 //hoʊps// |
| Meaning | A strong wish for something. | What you want to happen in the future. |
| Example | Her desire to travel the world consumed her thoughts daily. | She has high hopes for her future career in medicine. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very 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 | raise hopes, dashed hopes, hold hopes, share hopes, hope against hope |
| Antonyms | dislike, aversion, indifference | despair, doubt, cynicism |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'want' — 'desire' is stronger., Using 'desire' without an object — it needs something to be desired., Misplacing the stress in pronunciation. | Confused with 'hope' as a verb; 'hopes' is a noun., Using 'hope' in plural incorrectly; 'hopes' should only refer to multiple desires., Mixing tenses; ensure the sentence reflects the future context. |
| 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. | Used when discussing future desires. Appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but may be more common in conversational language. |
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Frequently asked questions: Desire vs Hopes
What's the difference between Desire and Hopes?
Desire: A strong wish for something. Hopes: What you want to happen in the future.
Can you show an example of each?
Desire: Her desire to travel the world consumed her thoughts daily. Hopes: She has high hopes for her future career in medicine.
Can I use Desire and Hopes interchangeably?
Not always. Desire and Hopes 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.