for (the) want of
idiom
: because of not having (something) : because (something) does not exist or is not available
For want of a better name, let's call it "Operation One."
People are dying for want of medical treatment.
The project failed for the want of adequate funding.
Examples of for (the) want of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If public transportation had to cut service for want of fares, the city would grow unfriendly to work.
—
Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
The enclave’s sole power plant shut down Wednesday afternoon for want of fuel.
—Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2023
Pants ride lower and shirts cling tighter for want of a perch, but there’s something to be said for a loose shirt free to snatch a breeze on your behalf.
—Melvin Backman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2023
Neither hears the truth, as often as is wholesome, and both suffer for the want of the corrective.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 9 Oct. 2023
Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, is drying out for want of rain.
—Diana Durán, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023
The city has faced its fair share of setbacks—companies like Arm, building giant CRH and equipment supplier Ferguson have chosen to list across the Atlantic for the want of wider market access, potential for higher valuations and fewer regulatory barriers.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2023
This came as a relief after a poor second quarter, when the company left more than 90,000 vehicles unfinished in inventories for want of semiconductors and other components.
—Stephen Wilmot, WSJ, 25 Oct. 2022
True, no one goes to the barricades just for want of a Mercedes-Benz.
—New York Times, 18 Mar. 2022
See More
Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
The enclave’s sole power plant shut down Wednesday afternoon for want of fuel.
—Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2023
Pants ride lower and shirts cling tighter for want of a perch, but there’s something to be said for a loose shirt free to snatch a breeze on your behalf.
—Melvin Backman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2023
Neither hears the truth, as often as is wholesome, and both suffer for the want of the corrective.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 9 Oct. 2023
Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, is drying out for want of rain.
—Diana Durán, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023
The city has faced its fair share of setbacks—companies like Arm, building giant CRH and equipment supplier Ferguson have chosen to list across the Atlantic for the want of wider market access, potential for higher valuations and fewer regulatory barriers.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2023
This came as a relief after a poor second quarter, when the company left more than 90,000 vehicles unfinished in inventories for want of semiconductors and other components.
—Stephen Wilmot, WSJ, 25 Oct. 2022
True, no one goes to the barricades just for want of a Mercedes-Benz.
—New York Times, 18 Mar. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'for (the) want of.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near for (the) want of
Cite this Entry
“For (the) want of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/for%20%28the%29%20want%20of. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share