lack

American  

[lak] / læk /

noun

1. an absence or inadequate amount of something needed, desirable, or customary.

   We had to severely limit our holiday gift shopping due to lack of funds.

   Lack of skill is the main reason he didn’t get the job.

   Synonyms:

   need, want, insufficiency, deficit, paucity, scarcity, dearth

   Antonyms:

   surplus

2. something missing or needed.

   After he left, they really felt the lack.

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verb (used with object)

• lacks,
  present (3rd person singular)
• lacked,
  past participle,  past
• lacking
  present participle

1. to be without or deficient in.

   She wants to become an actor, but unfortunately she lacks ability.

   Many of the villagers lacked even the basic necessities of life.

   Synonyms:

   need, want

2. to fall short of a target or requirement by (a particular amount).

   He lacks three votes to win.

verb (used without object)

• lacks,
  present (3rd person singular)
• lacked,
  past participle,  past
• lacking
  present participle

1. to be absent or missing, as something needed or desirable.

   Three votes are lacking to make a majority.

verb phrase

1. lack in to be short of or deficient in.

   What he lacks in brains, he makes up for in brawn.

lack British  

/ læk /

noun

1. an insufficiency, shortage, or absence of something required or desired

2. something that is required but is absent or in short supply

---

verb

1. to be deficient (in) or have need (of)

   to lack purpose

Usage

What are other ways to say lack? To lack something is to be without or deficient in it. How does lack compare to synonyms want, need, and require? Find out on Thesaurus.com. 

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• lacking
  present
• lacked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• lack
  simple
• lacks
  simple
• have lacked
  perfect
• has lacked
  perfect
• am lacking
  progressive
• are lacking
  progressive
• is lacking
  progressive
• have been lacking
  perfect progressive
• has been lacking
  perfect progressive

Past

• lacked
  simple
• had lacked
  perfect
• was lacking
  progressive
• were lacking
  progressive
• had been lacking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will lack
  simple
• will have lacked
  perfect
• will be lacking
  progressive
• will have been lacking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of lack

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English lak; cognate with Middle Low German lak, Middle Dutch lac “deficiency”; akin to Old Norse lakr “deficient”

Explanation

If you lack something, you need or want something that's missing. When there's a lack of food, people starve. There are a lot of things lacking in the world. If you have no video games, then you're lacking them. People who are thirsty and starving lack food and water. Many people lack money and health care. A lack of something is the opposite of an abundance of something. If you have plenty of books, then you don't lack them — though you may lack enough time to read them all.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lack lacks lacked lacking

“Part of the flexibility of Sanxingdui is exactly that lack of writing, which enables a certain level of looseness,” Brown said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

Advocates viewed Baker’s proposal as weaker on broadband access provisions too, including commitments to provide low-cost internet for disadvantaged residents and communities that lack service.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026

Too much conservation work currently relies on philanthropists' cash and devoted volunteers, those in the sector say, and much more languishes on the to-do list due to a lack of money.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

Since we currently live in Massachusetts, we’d also like to take advantage of Florida’s lack of a state income tax.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 8, 2026

She gestured to show what she meant: two legs instead of four, pert noses, a telltale lack of little curly tails.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

The stock also lacks catalysts in the second half of the year, he added.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

Wilson is right that Nolan’s movie lacks Odysseus’ egomaniacal brilliance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Hughes is seeking relief for $1.5 billion in debt that matured on Aug. 1, stating it lacks the cash to pay off the debt.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Hesperia lacks the widely available activities found in an urban center, so when monstrous fish are caught in the local lake, “it picks up traction pretty quickly,” Hernandez said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026

In spite of The Taker’s efforts, the car ride lacks the energy and fun and good feeling that it had the first time.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

In response, Cook sued, arguing that Trump lacked grounds to fire her, especially without meaningful due process.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

In March, a Delhi-Vancouver flight turned back after nearly eight hours because it lacked clearance to enter Canadian airspace.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

The protein has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, but it has remained poorly understood partly because researchers have lacked suitable compounds for studying it.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 3, 2026

It also initially lacked clear plans and approaches for special education and student discipline, former employees said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

“What is your greatest fault?” asked Fred, by way of testing in her the virtue he lacked himself.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

There are many reasons to decline, including living far away, health issues, conflicts of interest, or simply lacking the time or ability to manage the estate.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

The then-hypothetical facility had been a critical contingency for Riley, who never toured USC’s facilities, but knew — like most people around college football — that the Trojans were seriously lacking in that department.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

The U.S. hub-and-spoke approach leaves the Asia-Pacific lacking in uniform communications, radar and logistics systems.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

"I think the justice system has been lacking for quite some time and it needs a proper overhaul really."

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

There was an ease about them, an intimacy, which had been totally lacking from the show they had put on before the congregants last week.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

Related Words

• absence
• dearth
• inadequacy
• loss
• paucity
• poverty
• reduction
• scarcity
• shortage
• shortcoming
• shortfall