want

[wont, wawnt]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR want ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to feel a need or a desire for; wish for: to want one's dinner; always wanting something new.

to wish, need, crave, demand, or desire (often followed by an infinitive): I want to see you. She wants to be notified.

to be without or be deficient in: to want judgment; to want knowledge.

to fall short by (a specified amount): The sum collected wants but a few dollars of the desired amount.

to require or need: The house wants painting.

verb (used without object)

to feel inclined; wish; like (often followed by to): We can stay home if you want.

to be deficient by the absence of some part or thing, or to feel or have a need (sometimes followed by for): He did not want for abilities.

to have need (usually followed by for): If you want for anything, let him know.

to be in a state of destitution, need, or poverty: She would never allow her parents to want.

to be lacking or absent, as a part or thing necessary to completeness: All that wants is his signature.

noun

something wanted or needed; necessity: My wants are few.

something desired, demanded, or required: a person of childish, capricious wants.

absence or deficiency of something desirable or requisite; lack: plants dying for want of rain.

the state of being without something desired or needed; need: to be in want of an assistant.

the state of being without the necessaries of life; destitution; poverty: a country where want is virtually unknown.

a sense of lack or need of something: to feel a vague want.

Idioms

want in/out, Chiefly Midland.

to desire to enter or leave: The cat wants in.
Informal.to desire acceptance in or release from something specified: I talked with Louie about our plan, and he wants in.

Origin of want

1150–1200; Middle English wante < Old Norse vanta to lack

Related formswant·er, nounwant·less, adjectivewant·less·ness, nounself-want, nounun·want·ed, adjective

Can be confusedunwanted unwontedwant wont

Synonyms for want

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR want ON THESAURUS.COM

1. require, crave. 3. need. 11. desideratum. 13. dearth, scarcity, scarceness, inadequacy, insufficiency, paucity, meagerness. 15. privation, penury, indigence.

Synonym study

1. See wish. 3. See lack. 15. See poverty.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for want

need, wish, require, prefer, crave, choose, demand, longing, requirement, hankering, yen, hunger, thirst, yearning, fancy, necessity, appetite, craving, privation, defect

Examples from the Web for want

Contemporary Examples of want

So it might be me projecting my desires onto Archer to want to just get away from work for a few weeks.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS
Marlow Stern
January 8, 2015
Models in Israel will have to maintain a BMI of 18.5 or higher if they want to stay employed.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models
Carrie Arnold
January 8, 2015
Why would “they” want to crush him just for attempting to buy something twenty years ago?
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers
Stereo Williams
January 8, 2015
But the most important point I want to make is about what the press does now.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
January 8, 2015
What an amazing thing to be able to listen to any music you want, a whole world of bands.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore
James Joiner
January 7, 2015

Historical Examples of want

People can talk all they want to about your bein' just a dub—I won't believe 'em.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
I want him to think he ain't got a friend on earth but himself.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
"I suppose you want to be taken back," said the superintendent, abruptly.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
Why should you want to see me do well, after our little affair?
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
Just sit around and talk wise about me all you want to, but watch.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for want

want

verb

(tr) to feel a need or longing forI want a new hat

(when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to wish, need, or desire (something or to do something)he wants to go home

(intr usually used with a negative and often foll by for) to be lacking or deficient (in something necessary or desirable)the child wants for nothing

(tr) to feel the absence oflying on the ground makes me want my bed

(tr) to fall short by (a specified amount)

(tr) mainly British to have need of or require (doing or being something)your shoes want cleaning

(intr) to be destitute

(tr; often passive) to seek or request the presence ofyou're wanted upstairs

(intr) to be absent

(tr; takes an infinitive) informal should or ought (to do something)you don't want to go out so late

want in informal to wish to be included in a venture

want out informal to wish to be excluded from a venture

noun

the act or an instance of wanting

anything that is needed, desired, or lackedto supply someone's wants

a lack, shortage, or absencefor want of common sense

the state of being in need; destitutionthe state should help those in want

a sense of lack; craving

Derived Formswanter, noun

Word Origin for want

C12 (vb, in the sense: it is lacking), C13 (n): from Old Norse vanta to be deficient; related to Old English wanian to wane

want

noun

English dialect a mole

Word Origin for want

Old English wand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for want

c.1200, "to be lacking," from Old Norse vanta "to lack, want," earlier *wanaton, from Proto-Germanic *wanen, from PIE *we-no-, from root *eue- "to leave, abandon, give out" (see vain). The meaning "desire, wish for" is first recorded 1706. Related: wanted; wanting.

c.1300, "deficiency, shortage," from Old Norse vant, neuter of vanr "wanting, deficient;" related to Old English wanian "to diminish" (see wane). Phrase for want of is recorded from c.1400. Meaning "state of destitution" is recorded from mid-14c. Newspaper want ad is recorded from 1897. Middle English had wantsum (c.1200) "in want, deprived of," literally "want-some."

Idioms and Phrases with want

want

In addition to the idioms beginning with want

want for nothing
want in

also see:

waste not, want not