want

verb

\ ˈwȯnt also ˈwänt and ˈwənt

wanted; wanting; wants

Definition of want

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to be needy or destitute

2 : to have or feel need never wants for friends

3 : to be necessary or needed

4 : to desire to come, go, or be the cat wants in wants out of the deal

transitive verb

1 : to fail to possess especially in customary or required amount : lack the answer wanted courtesy

2a : to have a strong desire for wanted a chance to rest

b : to have an inclination to : like say what you want, he is efficient

3a : to have need of : require the motor wants a tune-up

b : to suffer from the lack of thousands still want food and shelter

4 : ought —used with the infinitive you want to be very careful what you say— Claudia Cassidy

5 : to wish or demand the presence of

6 : to hunt or seek in order to apprehend wanted for murder

want

noun

Definition of want (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : deficiency, lack suffers from a want of good sense

b : grave and extreme poverty that deprives one of the necessities of life

2 : something wanted : need, desire

3 : personal defect : fault

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about want

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Choose the Right Synonym for want

Verb

desire, wish, want, crave, covet mean to have a longing for. desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim. desires to start a new life wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable. wishes for permanent world peace want specifically suggests a felt need or lack. wants to have a family crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need. craves sweets covet implies strong envious desire. covets his rise to fame

Noun

poverty, indigence, penury, want, destitution mean the state of one with insufficient resources. poverty may cover a range from extreme want of necessities to an absence of material comforts. the extreme poverty of the slum dwellers indigence implies seriously straitened circumstances. the indigence of her years as a graduate student penury suggests a cramping or oppressive lack of money. a catastrophic illness that condemned them to years of penury want and destitution imply extreme poverty that threatens life itself through starvation or exposure. lived in a perpetual state of want the widespread destitution in countries beset by famine

Examples of want in a Sentence

Verb

Do you want more coffee? He wants a bicycle for his birthday. I just wanted a chance to rest. She wanted more time to finish the test. Do you want anything from the store? What do you want for Christmas? You can choose whichever color you want. The motor wants a tune-up. Thousands of poor people still want food and shelter. Tell him that the teacher wants him.

Noun

His attitude shows a want of proper respect. He is suffering from want of adequate sleep. people who are living in want

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Love wants the Republican Party to engage voters of color. — P.r. Lockhart, Vox, "Mia Love and Tim Scott want the GOP to reach out to minority voters. The party is doing the opposite.," 12 Dec. 2018 Launches Part of me wants to fly to New York just to experience the surreal majesty of the Facebook privacy pop-up kiosk in person. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "How Congress missed another chance to hold big tech accountable," 12 Dec. 2018 The Friends icon also wants to shift the perceptions of women who choose not to have children or get married. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Jennifer Aniston Just Opened Up About Her 'Very Successful' Marriages to Brad Pitt & Justin Theroux," 8 Dec. 2018 Half of voters are familiar with Roe v. Wade (50 percent), and those voters are more likely to want to keep Roe in place (69 percent) than overturn it (27 percent). — Dana Blanton, Fox News, "Fox News Poll: Jury's out on Kavanaugh, voters want Senate vote before midterms," 13 July 2018 The park offers a Night Explorer Junior Ranger program for kids who want to learn more about the starry sky. — Megan Michelson, Outside Online, "These Are the Best Stargazing Spots in North America," 13 July 2018 By signing free agents, but fact: What free agents in the top 15 are going to want to be coached by Fred Hoiberg? — Tom, Dublin, Ohio That’s some strong cynicism for the offseason. — K.c. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Bulls Q&A: Should Wendell Carter Jr. enter Hall of Fame this week or next? What's the starting lineup?," 12 July 2018 Presumably senators are going to want to know more. — Margaret Hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "Kavanaugh Ran Up Huge Credit Card Debt From Baseball Tickets, White House Says," 12 July 2018 Exactly how much the fee will be remains to be seen, but €40m is what PSG are said to want. — SI.com, "PSG Willing to Sell Adrien Rabiot After Barcelona Agree Personal Terms With Midfielder," 12 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Danny and Maria work to track down want went wrong—and who's responsible for the tragedy. — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "Next Week's 'Blue Bloods' Episode Reveals That Frank Reagan Is Battling a Serious Lawsuit," 26 Oct. 2018 Thankfully, the script keeps things firmly rooted in the wants and needs of its two leads. — Bryan Bishop, The Verge, "Ralph Breaks the Internet is The Lego Movie of Disney films," 14 Nov. 2018 But even more than Mr. Golden, the Republicans cater to the wants and whims of Simcha Felder, a nominally Democratic senator from Brooklyn. — New York Times, "Senator Does a U-Turn on Speed Cameras in School Zones," 12 July 2018 One important caveat: While Grace and Frankie have their wants, money isn’t one of them. — Chris Kornelis, WSJ, "What ‘Grace and Frankie’ Gets Right—and Wrong—About Retirement," 17 Nov. 2018 Determining your personal wants and needs starts with understanding the different types of bedding, though distinguishing one type from the next can be tricky. — Lucia Tonelli, ELLE Decor, "The Ultimate Guide to the Duvet Cover," 11 Oct. 2018 The Air Force by 2030 wants to expand to 386 squadrons from 312, while the Navy’s goal is to increase its fleet of ships to 355 from 286 by then. — Michael R. Gordon, WSJ, "Analysis: Military-Spending Slowdown Would Fuel Strategy Debate," 25 Nov. 2018 Yet the powers that be want to pit Teddy against his family in a theatrical battle royal for the audience’s amusement. — Trevor Fraser, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Burlypicks returns to Orlando to crown the best in burlesque," 13 June 2018 His ambition to become a painter was hampered by a limited technique and by a telling want of feeling for human figures. — Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, "How American Racism Influenced Hitler," 23 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'want.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.