lack
noun
an absence or inadequate amount of something needed, desirable, or customary.
lacked
-
past participleof lack.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof lack.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
lacknounan absence or inadequate amount of something needed, desirable, or customary.
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.
But his director’s eye lacked style and discernment.
From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026
But James, a Democrat who was elected Tuesday to a third term, faced criticism because her office lacked expertise in sex-crimes prosecutions—and because she had expressed solidarity with the accuser.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
I am returning to a world carefully crafted to drive me insane, but armed with knowledge I lacked when I left.
From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026
The systems were clearly functional, even though they lacked the expected molecular signs of activity.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026
What he lacked of course was a suitable power source: he tried to imagine an aeroplane powered by a steam engine, but the difficulties were obvious.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
