want

1 of 2

verb

ˈwȯnt 

also

ˈwänt 

 and  ˈwənt

wanted; wanting; wants

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

2

a

: 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

3

a

: 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

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: 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

Verb

• crave
• desire

Noun

• lack
• absence

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

From overcrowded trails to traffic congestion, the Pacific islands have been actively seeking visitors who want to create a deeper connection with Hawaii. —Pamela Avila, USA Today, 5 July 2025

Some Democrats on the far left of the political spectrum want the governor to go away. —Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025

Noun

The margins in the business were highly attractive When a factory line is down for want of a critical part, the price of transit is trivial compare to the cost of lost production. —Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

For Williamson, who joined the club aged nine, putting her coach’s wants into practice means prioritising her own needs. —Art De Roché, New York Times, 22 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing want

• don't want to know
• do you want to bet?
• for (the) want of
• have/hold/want no truck with
• in want of
• it is not for lack/want of trying
• lack/want for nothing
• make someone (want to) puke
• not for want of
• only wish/want/hope
• want ad
• want (back) into
• want for
• want in on
• want in/out
• want no part of/in
• want out of
• want rid of
• want someone's scalp
• waste not, want not

Rhymes for want

• daunt
• flaunt
• font
• gaunt
• haunt
• jaunt
• pont
• taunt
• vaunt
• avant
• croissant
• detente

Kids Definition

want

1 of 2 verb

ˈwȯnt 

 also  ˈwänt,

ˈwənt

1

: to be without : lack

this coat is wanting a button

2

: to feel or have the need of : require

our house wants painting

3

: to desire, wish, or long for something

wanted a chance to play

4

: ought sense 2

you want to be very careful

5

: to seek in order to arrest

was wanted for murder

want

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a lack of a required or usual amount

b

: a state of great poverty

2

: something wanted : need, desire