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want
[wont, wawnt]
verb (used with object)
to feel a need or a desire for; wish for.
to want one's dinner; always wanting something new.
Synonyms: ,to wish, need, crave, demand, or desire (often followed by an infinitive).
I want to see you.
She wants to be notified.
to be without or be deficient in.
to want judgment; to want knowledge.
Synonyms:to fall short by (a specified amount).
The sum collected wants but a few dollars of the desired amount.
to require or need.
The house wants painting.
verb (used without object)
to feel inclined; wish; like (often followed byto ).
We can stay home if you want.
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.
to have need (usually followed byfor ).
If you want for anything, let him know.
to be in a state of destitution, need, or poverty.
She would never allow her parents to want.
to be lacking or absent, as a part or thing necessary to completeness.
All that wants is his signature.
noun
something wanted or needed; necessity.
My wants are few.
Synonyms:something desired, demanded, or required.
a person of childish, capricious wants.
absence or deficiency of something desirable or requisite; lack.
plants dying for want of rain.
Synonyms: , , , ,the state of being without something desired or needed; need.
to be in want of an assistant.
the state of being without the necessaries of life; destitution; poverty.
a country where want is virtually unknown.
Synonyms: , ,a sense of lack or need of something.
to feel a vague want.
want
1/ ɒԳ /
verb
(tr) to feel a need or longing for
I want a new hat
(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
to be lacking or deficient (in something necessary or desirable)
the child wants for nothing
(tr) to feel the absence of
lying on the ground makes me want my bed
(tr) to fall short by (a specified amount)
(tr) to have need of or require (doing or being something)
your shoes want cleaning
(intr) to be destitute
(tr; often passive) to seek or request the presence of
you're wanted upstairs
(intr) to be absent
informal(tr; takes an infinitive) should or ought (to do something)
you don't want to go out so late
informalto wish to be included in a venture
informalto wish to be excluded from a venture
noun
the act or an instance of wanting
anything that is needed, desired, or lacked
to supply someone's wants
a lack, shortage, or absence
for want of common sense
the state of being in need; destitution
the state should help those in want
a sense of lack; craving
want
2/ ɒԳ /
noun
dialecta mole
Other 51Թ Forms
- wanter noun
- wantless adjective
- wantlessness noun
- self-want noun
- unwanted adjective
- ˈɲԳٱ noun
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of want1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of want1
Origin of want2
Idioms and Phrases
want in / out,
to desire to enter or leave.
The cat wants in.
Informal. to desire acceptance in or release from something specified.
I talked with Louie about our plan, and he wants in.
Example Sentences
The Briton let a victory slip through his fingers after taking pole in Canada last year and said he wanted to make amends for that.
Brian had found it hard seeing how much his son was suffering on dialysis and wanted to do something to change the situation.
After eleven weeks, the remaining 13 can be transferred to the birth partner if wanted, so they can use them as extra maternity leave.
Ms Beeching believes there's now a risk the feud stories could start to shape the family's image, "instead of the achievements they actually want to be known for".
"They did not want to study or train," he recalled.
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When To Use
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.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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