Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for want on Thesaurus.com 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. Show More
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. Show More
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. Show More
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. Show More
Origin of want 1150–1200; Middle English wante < Old Norse vanta to lack
Related forms want·er , noun want·less , adjective want·less·ness , noun self-want , noun un·want·ed , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
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.
Models in Israel will have to maintain a BMI of 18.5 or higher if they want to stay employed.
Why would “they” want to crush him just for attempting to buy something twenty years ago?
But the most important point I want to make is about what the press does now.
What an amazing thing to be able to listen to any music you want , a whole world of bands.
Historical Examples of want People can talk all they want to about your bein' just a dub—I won't believe 'em.
I want him to think he ain't got a friend on earth but himself.
"I suppose you want to be taken back," said the superintendent, abruptly.
Why should you want to see me do well, after our little affair?
Just sit around and talk wise about me all you want to, but watch.
British Dictionary definitions for want (tr) to feel a need or longing for I 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 of lying 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 of you'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 Show More
the act or an instance of wanting anything that is needed, desired, or lacked to supply someone's wants a lack, shortage, or absence for want of common sense the state of being in need; destitution the state should help those in want a sense of lack; craving Show More
Derived Forms wanter , 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
Word Origin for want Old English wand
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for want v. 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 .
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n. 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."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with want In addition to the idioms beginning with want
also see:
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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