The Meaning of DESPERATE – DESPERATE in a Sentence

By combining pictures with sentence examples, it will be easy to remember the definition and meaning of DESPERATE and how to use it naturally in various contexts.

This video provides 3 illustrated examples. Take a moment to look at the picture, then listen and read the sentence example. Then make sure you understand the sentence. Look up in a dictionary any other words you do not understand.

At the end of the video, common collocations are listed in which the word DESPERATE is often found. You will also find a list of common synonyms.

Here is a transcript of the video: “The Meaning of DESPERATE – DESPERATE in a Sentence”

Slide 2:
The word DESPERATE is an adjective
It’s pronounced:
DESS◦per◦ut
Definition:
1. a feeling of hopelessness, despair
2. something done out of extreme urgency, or as a last resort
3. having an intense desire or need for something

The clipart shows a tramp.

Slide 3:
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Let’s consider 3 illustrated sentence examples for the word DESPERATE. Then later in the video we will learn a number of synonyms, and finally a group of common collocations. This section will really help your English fluency.

Slide 4:
The first definition

DESPERATE
1. a feeling of hopelessness, despair

Slide 5:
In the picture we see a poor man crouching on the ground, looking as if he is in pain.

Sentence example: This poor man, sitting outside a cathedral in Bacolod City, Philippines, looks absolutely desperate.

Slide 6:
The second definition

DESPERATE (adj.)

DESPERATION (n.)
2. something done out of extreme urgency, or as a last resort

Slide 7:
Next we see a photograph taken during the Vietnam war from aboard a U.S. Navy ship.

The sentence reads: In desperation, U.S. Navy personnel push a helicopter off the deck of their ship, into the sea, to make room for more evacuation flights from Saigon as North Vietnamese forces advance.

Slide 8:
The third definition

DESPERATE
3. having an intense desire or need for something

Slide 9:
The picture shows an elderly lady lighting a cigarette.

The sentence reads: After a very stressful morning, she told her friend: “I am in desperate need of a cigarette right now!”

Slide 7:
So remember, DESPERATE means:
1. a feeling of hopelessness, despair
2. something done out of extreme urgency, or as a last resort
3. having an intense desire or need for something

Synonyms include:
dire
hopeless
frantic
daring
foolhardy

Slide 8:
Here are some common collocations
in desperate need
a desperate situation
in desperation
a desperate act
desperate for answers
desperate circumstances
desperate measures

Slide 9:
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Slide 10:
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Now you understand clearly the meaning of DESPERATE, check other words in The Illustrated Dictionary such as:
The Meaning of THOROUGH – THOROUGH in a Sentence

Image Credits

Slide 5 – poor man
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/RA1iR9

Slide 7 – helicopter
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/276TgeC

Slide 9 – lighting cigarette
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/xps7ie

Regarding the use of illustrations and photographs used in this video:

Creative Commons Attribution Licence
Others are allowed to copy, distribute, display, and perform copyrighted work – and derivative works based upon it if they give credit to the creator or source.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode