lack

1 of 2

verb

ˈlak 

lacked; lacking; lacks

intransitive verb

1

: to be deficient or missing

time is lacking for a full explanation

2

: to be short or have need of something

he will not lack for advisers

The area does not lack for good restaurants.

transitive verb

: to stand in need of : suffer from the absence or deficiency of

lack the necessities of life

She lacked confidence.

lack

2 of 2

noun

1

: the fact or state of being wanting or deficient

a lack of evidence

2

: something that is lacking or is needed

Synonyms

Noun

• absence
• dearth
• want

Examples of lack in a Sentence

Verb

His book lacks any coherent structure.

They lack a good strategy for winning the election.

This painting lacks any artistic value.

She has never been accused of lacking confidence.

Many of these people lack the basic necessities of life.

Noun

The problem is a lack of money.

She has been suffering from a lack of sleep lately.

Her problem is lack of sleep.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

While my seat was a bit lacking in terms of storage when compared to some of the newest first-class offerings from major airlines, overhead bin space is generous for every passenger. —Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2023

In Fresno and Buffalo, N.Y., some viewers would have lacked access to CBS’ coverage of the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders game. —Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2023

About 25% of Nova Scotia lacked power around midday Saturday. —David Sharp, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023

The ordinance governing the office lacks specifics on when and how Dallas police should share information with oversight. —Kelli Smith, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023

In addition to lacking money to mount Artscape, BOPA also lacked staffing. —Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2023

Educators lack noninstructional time built into their day to make the calls and write the texts—elementary-school teachers may have thirty-plus students, and high-school teachers may have a hundred or more. —Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2023

In doing so, the comics, who strongly identify with the striking writers, have given a public face to a guild that has traditionally lacked that kind of sizzle and star power when trying to drum up public sympathy for its cause. —Brian Lowry, CNN, 5 Sep. 2023

Any extended absence would leave a hole in a Diamondbacks’ lineup that lacks impactful power bats. —Theo MacKie, The Arizona Republic, 4 Sep. 2023

Noun

New York Times reporter David Marchese asked Wenner about the lack of women and Black artists featured in his book. —Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2023

Despite Browne’s lack of training, Lauren hired him for the job. —Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023

During the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party, the lack of communication across the Taiwan Strait edged the situation closer to potential conflict. —Hou Yu-Ih, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2023

This did not happen, as WPS permanently shut down as a result of a lack of funding. —Joe Eachus, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023

The hall has also been criticized for its relative lack of female and minority inductees, with some recent improvement. —Lyric Li, Washington Post, 17 Sep. 2023

While environmentalists and scooter advocates expressed frustration about the lack of scooters caused by the crackdown, the watchdog group Safe Walkways urged city officials not to back down. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2023

Says all those things add up to lack of consistency. —Matt Stahl | [e-mail], al, 16 Sep. 2023

The lack of representation is especially acute for Latinos, who make up just 5% of state high court justices in 2023 — despite accounting for 19% of the U.S. population. —Aaron Mendelson, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English lak; akin to Middle Dutch lak lack, Old Norse lakr defective

First Known Use

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing lack

• for lack of
• it is not for lack/want of trying
• lack of action
• lack/want for nothing
• no lack of
• lack thereof

• for lack of
• it is not for lack/want of trying
• lack of action
• lack/want for nothing
• no lack of
• lack thereof

Kids Definition

lack

1 of 2 verb

ˈlak 

1

: to be missing

2

: to need, want, or be short of

lacks money

lack

2 of 2 noun

1

: the fact or state of being absent or in short supply

2

: something that is lacking or is needed