Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

leave a lot to be desired

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.12 in modern English

Syllables: leave a lot -to be de-sired
IPA

27

Scrabble Score

20

Letters

3

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be unsatisfactory; to fail to meet minimal standards of acceptability.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"The three cylinders of these engines are 18½ in. dia. by 26 in. stroke; and as the three piston valves were all between the frames, it resulted in the monoblock casting being weak, so far as the centre cylinder was concerned, with the result that the life of these castings left a good deal to be desired."

Usage

Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

leaves a lot to be desired (present, singular) leaving a lot to be desired (participle, present) left a lot to be desired (participle, past) left a lot to be desired (past) leave much to be desired (alternative)

Questions

What does leave a lot to be desired mean?: To be unsatisfactory; to fail to meet minimal standards of acceptability.

How to pronounce leave a lot to be desired

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