desperately
/ˈdɛsp(ə)ɹətli/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
In a desperate manner; without regard to danger or safety; recklessly.
Adverb
Examples
She desperately grabbed at the nearby branches as she heard the branch she was standing on start to snap.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
extremely
Adverb
Examples
The race for silver medal was desperately close, they needed a photo finish to separate the runners.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “desperately” mean?
In a desperate manner; without regard to danger or safety; recklessly.
Is “desperately” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.