want

[wont, wawnt]

verb (used with object)

1. to feel a need or a desire for; wish for.

   to want one's dinner; always wanting something new.

   Synonyms: crave, require

2. to wish, need, crave, demand, or desire (often followed by an infinitive).

   I want to see you.

   She wants to be notified.

3. to be without or be deficient in.

   to want judgment; to want knowledge.

   Synonyms: need

4. to fall short by (a specified amount).

   The sum collected wants but a few dollars of the desired amount.

5. to require or need.

   The house wants painting.

verb (used without object)

1. to feel inclined; wish; like (often followed byto ).

   We can stay home if you want.

2. to be deficient by the absence of some part or thing, or to feel or have a need (sometimes followed byfor ).

   He did not want for abilities.

3. to have need (usually followed byfor ).

   If you want for anything, let him know.

4. to be in a state of destitution, need, or poverty.

   She would never allow her parents to want.

5. to be lacking or absent, as a part or thing necessary to completeness.

   All that wants is his signature.

noun

1. something wanted or needed; necessity.

   My wants are few.

   Synonyms: desideratum

2. something desired, demanded, or required.

   a person of childish, capricious wants.

3. absence or deficiency of something desirable or requisite; lack.

   plants dying for want of rain.

   Synonyms: paucity, insufficiency, inadequacy, scarcity, dearth

4. the state of being without something desired or needed; need.

   to be in want of an assistant.

5. the state of being without the necessaries of life; destitution; poverty.

   a country where want is virtually unknown.

   Synonyms: indigence, penury, privation

6. a sense of lack or need of something.

   to feel a vague want.

want

¹

/ wɒnt /

verb

1. (tr) to feel a need or longing for

   I want a new hat

2. (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to wish, need, or desire (something or to do something)

   he wants to go home

3. to be lacking or deficient (in something necessary or desirable)

   the child wants for nothing

4. (tr) to feel the absence of

   lying on the ground makes me want my bed

5. (tr) to fall short by (a specified amount)

6. (tr) to have need of or require (doing or being something)

   your shoes want cleaning

7. (intr) to be destitute

8. (tr; often passive) to seek or request the presence of

   you're wanted upstairs

9. (intr) to be absent

10. informal,  (tr; takes an infinitive) should or ought (to do something)

    you don't want to go out so late

11. informal,  to wish to be included in a venture

12. informal,  to wish to be excluded from a venture

noun

1. the act or an instance of wanting

2. anything that is needed, desired, or lacked

   to supply someone's wants

3. a lack, shortage, or absence

   for want of common sense

4. the state of being in need; destitution

   the state should help those in want

5. a sense of lack; craving

want

²

/ wɒnt /

noun

1. dialect,  a mole

Other Word Forms

• wanter noun
• wantless adjective
• wantlessness noun
• self-want noun
• unwanted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of want¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English wante, from Old Norse vanta “to lack”

Word History and Origins

Origin of want¹

C12 (vb, in the sense: it is lacking), C13 (n): from Old Norse vanta to be deficient; related to Old English wanian to _wane

Origin of want²

Old English wand

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. want in / out,

   1. to desire to enter or leave.

      The cat wants in.

   2. Informal. to desire acceptance in or release from something specified.

      I talked with Louie about our plan, and he wants in.

More idioms and phrases containing want

• waste not, want not

Example Sentences

"Just give me back my motorcycle. I just want a peaceful life and I am suffering a lot."

From BBC

Both mums want the people responsible to stop.

From BBC

And across the political spectrum, Americans want the Epstein files released, unredacted and in full.

From Los Angeles Times

“We just didn’t want to put him in harm’s way,” Roberts said.

From Los Angeles Times

Former Scotland captain Scott Brown: "That's what Steve Clarke will have wanted. The players had to dig deep - everyone gave a solid performance. Denmark had a lot of possession but hardly any clear-cut chances."

From BBC

Related Words

• choose 
• crave 
• need 
• prefer 
• require 
• wish 

When To Use

What are other ways to say want?

To want is to feel a need or a desire for something. How is want different from desire and wish? Find out on Thesaurus.com.