want

1 the fact or state of being absent the proverb that begins, “for want of a nail, the shoe was lost” Synonyms absence, dearth, lackRelated Words deficiency, deficit, failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, meagerness, paucity, poverty, scantiness, scantness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, skimpiness, undersupply; deprivation, loss, necessity, need, needfulness, omission; privation; blankness, emptiness, vacuity, vacuum, voidNear Antonyms abundance, amplitude, bounty, plenitude, plenteousness, plentifulness, plentitude, plenty, wealth; adequacy, sufficiency; excess, overabundance, oversupply, superabundance, surfeit, surplus; deluge, flood; bushel, deal, gobs, heap, loads, lot, mass, mountain, much, oodles, peck, pile, pot, quantity, raft, reams, scads, stack, volume, wad; fund, pool, stock, supply; cache, hoard, stash, stockpileAntonyms presence

2 a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number there's a notable want of teachers in that rural school district Synonyms crunch, dearth, deficit, drought (also drouth), failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, lack, lacuna, paucity, pinch, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, deficiencyRelated Words absence, omission; meagerness, poorness, skimpiness; necessity, need, privationNear Antonyms bountifulness, copiousness; excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplusAntonyms abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency, wealth

3 a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful those children are in want of some good discipline Synonyms absence, lack, needfulness, needRelated Words deficiency, deficit, inadequacy, insufficiency; dearth, meagerness, paucity, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, skimpiness; defect, minus; deprivation, famishment, privation; demand, essential, necessity, requirement, requisiteNear Antonyms adequacy, enough, sufficiency; fund, pool, stock, supply; excess, fill, overabundance, oversupply, plenty, surfeit, surplus; hoard, stockpile

4 the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions grew up in extreme want Synonyms beggary, destituteness, destitution, impecuniosity, impecuniousness, impoverishment, indigence, necessity, need, neediness, pauperism, penuriousness, penury, poorness, povertyRelated Words gutter, misery, woe, wretchedness; exigency; emergency, rainy day; austerity, deprivation, privation; bankruptcy, insolvency; belt-tightening, pinching, straiteningNear Antonyms luxury, prosperityAntonyms affluence, opulence, richness, wealth, wealthiness

5 a defect in character she's well-meaning and kind, but her besetting want is a complete lack of tact Synonyms demerit, dereliction, failing, foible, frailty, shortcoming, sin, vice, fault, weaknessRelated Words blot, spot, stain; blemish, deficiency, flaw, imperfection, minus, nit; Achilles' heel, soft spot; corruption, depravity, evil, immorality, sinfulness, wickednessNear Antonyms excellence, perfection; goodness, integrity, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousnessAntonyms merit, virtue

1 to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy I want a new car so badly! Synonyms ache (for), covet, crave, desiderate, die (for), hanker (for or after), hunger (for), itch (for), jones (for) [slang], long (for), lust (for or after), pant (after), pine (for), repine (for), salivate (for), sigh (for), thirst (for), desire, wish (for), yearn (for), yen (for)Related Words spoil (for); adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, love, relish, revel (in); favor, prefer; admire, appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, valueNear Antonyms abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe; decline, refuse, reject, spurn

2 to have as a requirement that stray cat wants food and a clean place to sleep Synonyms bear, challenge, claim, demand, necessitate, require, take, need, warrantRelated Words entail, involve; ask, beg, claim, clamor (for), cry (for); hurt (for), lack; command, enjoin, exact, insist, press, quest, stipulateNear Antonyms own, possessAntonyms have, hold

3 to see fit do what you want Synonyms like, please, choose, will, wishRelated Words ache (for), covet, crave, desire, die (for), fancy, hanker (for), hunger (for), itch (for), long (for), lust (for or after), pant (after), pine (for), repine (for), sigh (for), thirst (for), yearn (for); decide, determine, resolve

4 to wish to have I want some ice cream for dessert, please Synonyms care (for), likeRelated Words adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), love, relish, revel (in), welcome; covet, crave, desire, die (for), hanker (for or after), wish (for), yearn (for)