want

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verb \ˈwȯnt also ˈwänt and ˈwənt\

Definition of want

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 restb : to have an inclination to : like say what you want, he is efficient
3a : to have need of : require the motor wants a tune-upb : 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

See want defined for English-language learners

See want defined for kids

Examples of want in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of want from the Web

Argentina: Only just reentered capital markets after 15 years of isolation, and President Mauricio Macri wants to strengthen trade ties with anyone willing to listen.

— alan crawford, Bloomberg.com, "The Flashpoints for World Leaders at the Hamburg G-20", 6 July 2017
Despite their friendlier faces, the hotels are often met with protest from residents who don't want to live so close to the establishments.

— erin blakemore, Smithsonian, "“Corpse Hotels” Are in Demand in Japan", 6 July 2017
As the Times notes though, if the White House wants to avoid giving Democrats a platform to rail about the President’s unethical behavior, Trump could pick an acting director and leave him in charge indefinitely.

— adam k. raymond, Daily Intelligencer, "Government Ethics Chief Steps Down After Determining His Existence Is Futile", 6 July 2017
Fearless is certainly a quality every woman wants right now.

— emily farra, Vogue, "This Elie Saab Couture Gown Has 20,000 Hand-Placed Embellishments", 6 July 2017
The prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, wants to get people home quickly, but the UN says 200,000 have none to return to.

— The Economist, "Islamic State nears its end", 5 July 2017
C is a musician, and M wants to move out of the house.

— christian lorentzen, New Republic, "The spirit of wounded masculinity haunts America in 'A Ghost Story.'", 5 July 2017
Harmer and Hojnacki want to make a statement as well.

— rich mayor, Naperville Sun, "Neuqua Valley's Griffin Harmer follows Ethan Hojnacki as Brine All-American", 4 July 2017
Some people still don't want to admit that the Civil War was fought over slavery.

— lyndsey matthews, Country Living, "Archeologists Discover the Remains of Sally Hemings' Quarters at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello", 3 July 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of want

Middle English, from Old Norse vanta; akin to Old English wan deficient

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First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of want

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

want

noun

Definition of want

1a : deficiency, lack suffers from a want of good senseb : grave and extreme poverty that deprives one of the necessities of life
2 : something wanted : need, desire
3 : personal defect : fault

See want defined for English-language learners

Examples of want in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of want from the Web

Want to know more about vampires, witches, and zombies?

— National Geographic, "The Bloody Truth About Vampires", 26 Oct. 2016

First Known Use of want

13th century

Synonym Discussion of want

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

WANT Defined for English Language Learners

want

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verb

Definition of want for English Language Learners

: to desire or wish for (something)
: to need (something)
: to be without (something needed)

want

noun

Definition of want for English Language Learners

: the state or condition of not having any or enough of something
: something that is desired or needed
: the state or condition of being poor

WANT Defined for Kids

want

play

verb \ˈwȯnt, ˈwänt\

Definition of want for Students

wanted

;

wanting

1 : to desire, wish, or long for something I want to go home.
2 : to feel or suffer the need of something … such a ghastly brew as to make me want to swoon. — Avi, Crispin
3 : to be without : lack Luckily, my family does not want much.

want

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noun

Definition of want for Students

1 : ²lack, shortage His actions show a want of common sense.
2 : the state of being very poor They died in want.
3 : a wish for something : desire

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intransitive verb

transitive verb

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