want
verb (used with object)
to feel a need or a desire for; wish for.
have wanted
-
present perfectof want.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The airline might not have wanted to change, but had to in order to protect its margins.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
With a World Cup looming next year, Putellas would have wanted to have been settled in 2027, with a three-year deal in Bromley securing her future.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Distinguished executives, including the likes of Dave Dombrowski and Andrew Friedman, have wanted no part of the Angels.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
“There were a few things I would have wanted to try on and maybe even purchase,” Kristovich said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
It was the opposite of observation, the opposite of how Leonardo would have wanted the Mona Lisa theft investigated.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
