Lust
/lʌst/
nounverbB2
Definition
Lust means a very strong and often physical desire for something, most often for sexual attraction or pleasure. It can also mean a strong wish for something else, like power or money, but usually it talks about strong feelings for another person. When used as a verb, "to lust" means to want or desire something strongly.
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See It in Action
Strong sexual desire or attraction
- •He felt a sudden lust when he saw her.
- •The story talks about lust between two characters.
- •Sometimes lust can cause people to make quick decisions.
Strong desire for something (less common)
- •His lust for power made him act selfishly.
- •She had a lust for adventure and travel.
Verb: to want or desire strongly
- •He lusted after the new car he saw in the showroom.
- •Many people lust for success and happiness.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "lust" like "want" (A1 word), but much stronger and often about feelings or attraction, not just simple needs.
- ✓Picture a bright red heart beating fast, full of strong energy and desire.
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you really, really want something, like craving a favorite food or feeling attracted to someone.
- ✓Sounds like "lust" → imagine a loud, strong "rush" of feelings inside you.
- ✓In stories or movies, lust is often shown as a powerful attraction that can make people act quickly or without thinking.
- ✓NOT like "love" (deep care and connection), lust is more about strong physical or immediate desire.
- ✓NOT like "like" (simple positive feeling), lust is intense and urgent.
- ✓NOT like "need" (something necessary for survival), lust is about strong wants, not needs.
Try Other Words
- •Desire: strong feeling to have or do something (Use when the feeling is strong but can be about many things, not just physical attraction)
- •Crave: to want something very much (Use when talking about strong wishes, often for food or sensations)
- •Yearn: to have a deep, long-lasting wish (Use for emotional or gentle longing, less physical than lust)
- •Covet: to want something that belongs to someone else (Use in formal or negative contexts about wanting possessions)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; root word "lust" is simple and old
- •Etymology: From Old English "lust" meaning pleasure, desire, or delight
- •Historical development: Originally meant pleasure or desire in general; over time, it became more linked to strong sexual desire
- •Modern usage: Mostly used to describe strong sexual desire or intense wanting of something; sometimes used in moral or religious contexts to warn against too much desire
Reflect & Connect
•How can lust be different from love in real life? Can they happen together or separately?
•When is strong desire (lust) helpful, and when can it cause problems?
Fill in the blanks
1.People often feel lust when they see someone they ___ attracted to.
2.Lust can sometimes make people act ___ without thinking about consequences.
3.Unlike love, lust is mostly about strong ___ feelings, not deep emotional connection.
4.He lusted ___ the fame and money more than the work itself.
5.The phrase "lust after" means to want something ___ and strongly.
6.Lust usually ___ strong physical or emotional desire, not simple liking.
7.When someone has a lust for something, it often means they want it ___ than other things.