left something to be desired

A form of leave something to be desired — to be insufficient in some aspect.

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Meanings

verb
  1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of leave something to be desired
Cite this entry
APA

left something to be desired. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/left%20something%20to%20be%20desired

MLA

“left something to be desired.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/left%20something%20to%20be%20desired. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “left something to be desired,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/left%20something%20to%20be%20desired.

Source: left something to be desired on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.