What does desperately mean?
Word: Desperately
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: Desperately means in a way that shows you want or need something very badly. It can also mean extremely, as in desperately tired.
Synonyms: badly
How do you spell desperately?
Syllables: des - per - ate - ly
Tricky part: Because the word is linked to despair, many pupils write par in the second syllable. The spelling there is per, so desparately is wrong.
Watch out for: desparately, dessperately
Memory tip: Despair keeps its pair, but desperately swaps it for the per of person.
Desperately in a sentence
Example 1: Priya searched desperately for her library card before the bell rang.
Example 2: The farmers desperately need rain after a long, dry summer.
Example 3: We were desperately tired after the school trip to the castle.
Fun Fact
The word goes back to the Latin desperare, which meant to lose hope.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
d_sperat_ly
a) e, e
b) i, a
c) i, e
d) e, i
Show answer
a) e, e. The word opens with des, and desperate keeps its final e when ly is added.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Mateo desperately wanted to finish his model volcano before the afternon bell.
a) afternon
b) desperately
c) volcano
d) wanted
Show answer
a) afternon. Afternoon ends in noon, so it needs a double o.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
desperately
a) rarely
b) calmly
c) urgently
d) gently
Show answer
c) urgently. When you need something urgently, you need it badly and at once.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) desperately
b) sucessfully
c) patiently
d) eagerly
Show answer
b) sucessfully. Successfully has a double c as well as a double s.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If someone desperately needs a glass of water, how do they most likely feel?
a) a little bored
b) quite sleepy
c) slightly cold
d) very thirsty indeed
Show answer
d) very thirsty indeed
2. Arjun ran desperately towards the bus stop. Which is the most likely reason?
a) he was an hour early
b) his school was shut today
c) he had missed a bus last week
d) his bus was about to leave
Show answer
d) his bus was about to leave
