detestde‧test /dɪˈtest/ verb [transitive] 
Word Origin Examples
The two men detested each other.► see thesaurus at hate—detestation /ˌdiːteˈsteɪʃən/ noun [uncountable]GRAMMAR: Using the progressiveDetest is not used in the progressive. You say: · I detest housework. ✗Don’t say: I am detesting housework.Grammar guide ‒ VERBS
Word OriginWORD ORIGINdetest
Verb TableOrigin:
1400-1500 Latin detestari, from testis ‘one who gives information against someone’VERB TABLE
detest
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | detest |
| he, she, it | detests | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | detested |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have detested |
| he, she, it | has detested | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had detested |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will detest |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have detested |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- According to Hollywood gossip, both the leading actors were detested by the rest of the cast.
- He was exactly the kind of arrogant, self-satisfied man I detest.
- I detest any form of cruelty toward animals.
- I detested spending two hours every day travelling to work and back.
- Stalin detested the monument and had it demolished.
- The other girls detested her.
- When he was at school he detested football.
- You don't understand. It's not just that I don't like cabbage -- I absolutely detest it!
- All men come to detest them.
- He detested starting the day with an argument.
- I sat by the window with the books he detested.
- It was a pity I detested both sea-food and olive oil.
- Maeve hated needlework, detested it.
- She saw Zeus sitting on Mount Ida watching the Trojans conquer, and she thought how she detested him.
- The two casts of characters, although ostensibly cooperating to solve a crime of mutual interest, detest each other.
THESAURUS► hate
to hate something or someone very much: verb [transitive] to dislike someone or something very much: · Billy hated his stepfather.· He hated the fact that his wife was more successful than he was.· She hates people being late.
► can’t stand/can’t bear to hate someone or something. Can’t stand is less formal than hate, and is very common in everyday English: · She’s OK, but I can’t stand her husband.· He couldn’t bear the thought of life without Nicole.· She can’t stand being on her own.
► loathe/detest verb [transitive not in progressive] to hate something or someone very much. Loathe and detest are a little more formal than hate: · He loathed housework.· Greg had detested his brother for as long as he could remember.· She evidently loathes her ex-husband.
► despise verb [transitive not in progressive] to hate someone or something very much and have no respect for them: · He despised the man and could never forgive him for what he had done.· They despised the wealth and consumerism of the West.
► abhor verb [transitive not in progressive] formal to hate something because you think it is morally wrong: · He abhorred violence.· We abhor racism in any form.
Longman Language Activatorto feel strong dislike and anger towards someone or something► hate · "Go away!" Jackie screamed. "I hate you!"· I hated my first husband. He used to hit me and the children.· Turner was a rebel from the start. He hated authority and he hated the law.· He was an evil dictator who was universally hated.· It takes many years for kids who have suffered so much to learn to love and not to hate.
► hate somebody's guts informal to hate someone very much: · I wish she'd die tomorrow. I hate her guts.· The sergeant knew the men all hated his guts for the way he treated them.
► can't stand especially spoken to have a very strong feeling of dislike for a person or for their behaviour because they make you feel very angry or uncomfortable when you are with them: · We used to be quite good friends but now I can't stand her.· I can't stand the way he's always telling people what they should do.· If there's one thing I can't stand, it's hypocrisy.can't stand the sight of somebody: · Don't invite Alice. Mum can't stand the sight of her.
► detest to have a strong feeling of hatred, especially for a particular kind of person, or a particular type of behaviour: · He was exactly the kind of arrogant, self-satisfied man I detest.· I detest any form of cruelty toward animals.· According to Hollywood gossip, both the leading actors were detested by the rest of the cast.
► loathe to have a very strong feeling of hatred for someone or for a type of behaviour, because you think that they are the very worst kind of person or behaviour that there is: · Mrs Morel loathed her husband when he was drunk and violent.· Kemp was loathed by all the other prisoners, who regarded him as a traitor.· I really loathe it when people make promises and then don't keep them.
► despise to hate someone or something and think they have no importance or value: · We were brought up to despise the people from the poor side of town. They seemed so dirty and ignorant.· Otis despised inherited wealth and social class.despise somebody for (doing) something: · I felt that the other kids despised me for having the wrong accent and the wrong colour skin.
► abhor formal to hate a particular kind of behaviour or attitude, especially because you think it is morally wrong: · The great majority of the Irish people have always abhorred violence.· The president abhorred all forms of racism.
to hate something because it is unpleasant► hate · I hate it when you speak to me like that.· Tony hated science when he was at school because he wasn't any good at it.hate doing something · If you're playing against Gary, I warn you, he hates losing!· Don't go in now - she hates being interrupted.hate to do something · Hurry up - I hate to be late!
► can't stand/can't bear especially spoken to dislike something so much that you want to avoid it, because it upsets you, annoys you, or makes you feel ill: · She stopped working in the factory because she couldn't stand the smell.· Turn the radio off. I can't bear that noise.can't stand/can't bear doing something: · He couldn't bear seeing her in so much pain.can't stand/bear somebody doing something: · I can't stand people smoking around me when I'm eating.can't stand/can't bear to do something: · I can't bear to think about the day she actually leaves home.
► detest to hate something very much, especially a particular activity, taste, or smell: · When he was at school he detested football.· You don't understand. It's not just that I don't like cabbage -- I absolutely detest it!detest doing something: · I detested spending two hours every day travelling to work and back.
► loathe to dislike something very much, especially because it makes you feel sick or nervous: · She loathes spiders.· If there's one thing I really loathe, it's long car journeys.loathe doing something: · Even after years of practice, he still loathed making public speeches.
The two men detested each other.► see thesaurus at hate—detestation /ˌdiːteˈsteɪʃən/ noun [uncountable]GRAMMAR: Using the progressiveDetest is not used in the progressive. You say: · I detest housework. ✗Don’t say: I am detesting housework.Grammar guide ‒ VERBS