desperately B2 Topic:Actions & Processes US /ˈdɛsp(ə)ɹətli/ See IPA manual Freq #6328 Meanings 1 adv In a way that shows you want or need something very much. They were desperately trying to save the drowning man. 2 adv Extremely; very much. The race was desperately close until the very end. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adv · in a way that shows you... urgently Common collocations desperately engaged Adverb + adjective Etymology From desperate + -ly. Topics Actions & Processes External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # desperately **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** adv **IPA (US):** /ˈdɛsp(ə)ɹətli/ **Frequency rank:** 6328 ## Meanings 1. In a way that shows you want or need something very much. 2. Extremely; very much. ## Examples - They were desperately trying to save the drowning man. - The race was desperately close until the very end. ## Etymology From desperate + -ly. ## Topics - Actions & Processes markdown