Words / B2

DEYE-uh/ˈdaɪə/

Dire means extremely serious or urgent: dire staffing; dire consequences; in dire need. Terrible is everyday; serious is weaker. Ofsted warned of dire staffing on a ward. Informal: dire can mean “very bad quality” (a dire film). Do not use dire for a slightly dull lesson in a formal report.

Meaning

Extremely serious or urgent; very bad.

Examples

• “Ofsted warned of dire staffing levels on the children’s ward.”
• “The play was dire, which is informal “rubbish” — avoid in inspection English.”

Good to know

dire need / warning / consequences; in dire straits. Everyday: terrible. Formal news vs informal “poor quality”. Strong adjective — match the evidence.

Near in meaning

terrible

New