lack
noun
an absence or inadequate amount of something needed, desirable, or customary.
was lacking
-
past progressiveof lack.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Or perhaps, as suggested by the circles beneath his eyes, he was lacking the energy to keep up with the committee members.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
They found that the bot sounded more extroverted than Richard, but that it was lacking in his humor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
Elissa and Johnnie believe quality control during the build was lacking and more "stringent legislation" is needed so builders know "they can't build more rubbish homes".
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
In her formal review, she was less forgiving: “Green olives don’t belong on Caesar and this one was lacking an adequate amount of croutons.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
I never realized how much was lacking from my relationship with her until Lucy wasn’t here to fill in the gaps.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
