Desire vs. Need: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on November 16, 2023
Desire is a strong want for something, while need is a necessity essential for survival or well-being.
Key Differences
Desire represents a strong wish or longing for something that may not be essential. Need refers to something fundamental for survival or well-being, such as food or shelter.
Desires are often subjective and vary greatly among individuals. Needs are more universal and consistent across different people.
Fulfilling a desire can lead to pleasure and satisfaction, but it's not crucial for basic functioning. Fulfilling a need is essential for maintaining health, safety, or stability.
Desires can be limitless and change over time, influenced by personal preferences and external factors. Needs are more finite and consistent, dictated by basic human requirements.
In decision-making, desires often represent wants or aspirations, whereas needs signify requirements or necessities.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Importance
Non-essential, for pleasure or luxury
Essential for survival or well-being
Nature
Subjective, varies among individuals
More universal and consistent
Fulfillment Consequences
Leads to satisfaction or pleasure
Crucial for basic functioning
Limitation
Can be limitless and changeable
More finite and consistent
Role in Decision-Making
Represents wants or aspirations
Signifies requirements or necessities
ADVERTISEMENT
Desire and Need Definitions
Desire
Strong Want
He had a burning desire to become an artist.
Need
Necessity for Survival
Water is a basic need for all living creatures.
Desire
Wish or Longing
Her desire to travel the world was insatiable.
Need
Essential Demand
There's a great need for affordable healthcare.
Desire
Yearning
The desire for knowledge kept him reading late into the night.
Need
Urgency
The accident victims are in need of immediate medical attention.
Desire
To wish or long for; want
A reporter who desires an interview.
A teen who desires to travel.
Need
A condition or situation in which something must be supplied in order for a certain condition to be maintained or a desired state to be achieved
Crops in need of water.
A child's need for affection.
Desire
To want to have sex with (another person).
Need
Something required or wanted; a requisite
"Those of us who led the charge for these women's issues ... shared a common vision in the needs of women" (Olympia Snowe).
Desire
To express a wish for; request.
Need
Necessity; obligation
There is no need for you to go.
Desire
The feeling of wanting to have something or wishing that something will happen.
Need
A condition of poverty or misfortune
The family is in dire need.
Desire
An instance of this feeling
She had a lifelong desire to visit China.
Need
To be under the necessity of or the obligation to
They need not come. You needn't be concerned.
Desire
Sexual appetite; passion.
Need
To have need of; require
The family needs money. We need to get some more paint.
Desire
An object of such feeling or passion
A quiet evening with you is my only desire.
Need
To have an obligation (to do something)
You need to clean up your room.
Desire
(Archaic) A request or petition.
Need
To be subject (to an action) by obligation
Bags need to be stowed underneath the seat in front of you.
Desire
To want; to wish for earnestly.
I desire to speak with you.
Need
To want to be subject to
We don't need another lecture on the subject.
Desire
To put a request to (someone); to entreat.
Need
To be in need or want.
Desire
To want emotionally or sexually.
She has desired him since they first met.
Need
To be necessary.
Desire
To express a wish for; to entreat; to request.
Need
A requirement for something; something needed.
There's no need to speculate; we can easily find out for sure.
She grew irritated with his constant need for attention.
Our needs are not being met.
I've always tried to have few needs beyond food, clothing and shelter.
Desire
To require; to demand; to claim.
Need
Lack of means of subsistence; poverty; indigence; destitution.
Desire
To miss; to regret.
Need
(transitive) To have an absolute requirement for.
Living things need water to survive.
Desire
(countable) Someone or something wished for.
It is my desire to speak with you.
You’re my heart’s desire.
Need
(transitive) To want strongly; to feel that one must have something.
After ten days of hiking, I needed a shower and a shave.
Desire
(uncountable) Strong attraction, particularly romantic or sexual.
His desire for her kept him awake at night.
Need
(modal verb) To be obliged or required (to do something).
You need not go if you don't want to.
Desire
(uncountable) The feeling of desiring; an eager longing for something.
Too much desire can seriously affect one’s judgment.
Need
(intransitive) To be required; to be necessary.
Desire
(uncountable) Motivation. en
Need
To be necessary (to someone).
Desire
To long for; to wish for earnestly; to covet.
Neither shall any man desire thy land.
Ye desire your child to live.
Need
A state that requires supply or relief; pressing occasion for something; necessity; urgent want.
And the city had no need of the sun.
I have no need to beg.
Be governed by your needs, not by your fancy.
Desire
To express a wish for; to entreat; to request.
Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord?
Desire him to go in; trouble him no more.
Need
Want of the means of subsistence; poverty; indigence; destitution.
Famine is in thy cheeks;Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes.
Desire
To require; to demand; to claim.
A doleful case desires a doleful song.
Need
That which is needful; anything necessary to be done; (pl.) necessary things; business.
Desire
To miss; to regret.
She shall be pleasant while she lives, and desired when she dies.
Need
Situation of need; peril; danger.
Desire
The natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or the thought of any good, and impels to action or effort its continuance or possession; an eager wish to obtain or enjoy.
Unspeakable desire to see and know.
Need
To be in want of; to have cause or occasion for; to lack; to require, as supply or relief.
Other creatures all day longRove idle, unemployed, and less need rest.
Desire
An expressed wish; a request; petition.
And slowly was my mother broughtTo yield consent to my desire.
Need
To be wanted; to be necessary.
When we have done it, we have done all that is in our power, and all that needs.
Desire
Anything which is desired; an object of longing.
The Desire of all nations shall come.
Need
Of necessity. See Needs.
Desire
Excessive or morbid longing; lust; appetite.
Need
A condition requiring relief;
She satisfied his need for affection
God has no need of men to accomplish His work
There is a demand for jobs
Desire
Grief; regret.
Need
Anything that is necessary but lacking;
He had sufficient means to meet his simple needs
I tried to supply his wants
Desire
The feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
Need
The psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior;
We did not understand his motivation
He acted with the best of motives
Desire
An inclination to want things;
A man of many desires
Need
A state of extreme poverty or destitution;
Their indigence appalled him
A general state of need exists among the homeless
Desire
Something that is desired
Need
Require as useful, just, or proper;
It takes nerve to do what she did
Success usually requires hard work
This job asks a lot of patience and skill
This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice
This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert
This intervention does not postulates a patient's consent
Desire
Feel or have a desire for; want strongly;
I want to go home now
I want my own room
Need
Have need of;
This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner
Desire
Expect and wish;
I trust you will behave better from now on
I hope she understands that she cannot expect a raise
Need
Have or feel a need for;
Always needing friends and money
Desire
Express a desire for
Need
Requirement
The need for shelter is essential in harsh weather.
Desire
Aspiration
His desire for success drove him to work hard.
Need
Lack
His need for companionship was evident.
Desire
Craving
She had a sudden desire for chocolate.
FAQs
What is a desire?
Desire is a strong wish or longing for something.
Can desires become needs?
Rarely, if a desire is essential for psychological well-being.
Can fulfilling desires be harmful?
Potentially, if it leads to neglecting needs or harmful behaviors.
What is a need?
Need refers to something essential for survival or well-being.
Do desires have any benefits?
Yes, they can motivate personal growth and satisfaction.
Can needs change over time?
Basic needs remain consistent, but individual needs can evolve.
Are needs the same for everyone?
Basic needs are universal, but individual needs can vary.
Is it important to fulfill needs?
Yes, fulfilling needs is crucial for health and stability.
Are desires always materialistic?
No, desires can also be immaterial, like the desire for love or success.
How do desires influence behavior?
Desires can drive individuals to pursue specific goals or experiences.
Do desires contribute to happiness?
They can, if pursued in balance and without neglecting needs.
Can society influence desires?
Yes, societal norms and trends can shape personal desires.
How are needs identified?
Needs are identified as requirements for maintaining health and stability.
Can desires lead to disappointment?
Yes, if they are unrealistic or unattainable.
Are needs linked to survival?
Yes, basic needs are directly linked to survival and well-being.
Is fulfilling every desire possible?
Not always, as desires can be limitless and sometimes conflicting.
Is meeting needs a priority over desires?
Typically, yes, as needs are essential for well-being.
Do children have different needs than adults?
Yes, children have specific developmental needs.
Can unfulfilled desires affect mental health?
Possibly, if it leads to chronic dissatisfaction or unhappiness.
Are needs the same as rights?
Not necessarily, but basic needs are often considered fundamental rights.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
