- (formal) that you would like to have or do; worth having or doing
- She chatted for a few minutes about the qualities she considered desirable in a secretary.
- Such measures are desirable, if not essential.
- The house has many desirable features.
- Experience of computers is highly desirable.
- It is desirable that… (British English) It is desirable that interest rates should be reduced.
- (especially North American English) It is desirable that interest rates be reduced.
- It is desirable (for somebody) (to do something) It is no longer desirable for such young children to take formal written tests.
Extra Examples- A new direction was felt desirable for both parties.
- It is clearly desirable that domestic and European law should be compatible.
- It is clearly desirable to have a common set of principles throughout the industry.
- This kind of work is seen as desirable.
- An end to the hostilities remains a highly desirable objective.
- a desirable home/feature/residence/property/area
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- become
- …
- eminently
- extremely
- highly
- …
- it is desirable that…
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- (of a person) causing other people to feel sexual desire
- She suddenly saw herself as a desirable young woman.
- He found her intensely desirable.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- find somebody
- …
- extremely
- very
- sexually
- …
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French, suggested by Latin desiderabilis, from desiderare ‘to desire’, perhaps from de- ‘down’ + sidus, sider- ‘star’.
Check pronunciation:
desirable