lack

[ lak ]
See synonyms for: lacklackedlackinglacks on Thesaurus.com

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.

  2. something missing or needed: After he left, they really felt the lack.

verb (used with object)
  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.

  2. to fall short of a target or requirement by (a particular amount): He lacks three votes to win.

verb (used without object)
  1. to be absent or missing, as something needed or desirable: Three votes are lacking to make a majority.

Verb Phrases
  1. lack in, to be short of or deficient in: What he lacks in brains, he makes up for in brawn.

Origin of lack

1
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English lak; cognate with Middle Low German lak, Middle Dutch lac “deficiency”; akin to Old Norse lakr “deficient”

Other words for lack

Opposites for lack

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lack in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lack

lack

/ (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. (when intr, often foll by in or for) to be deficient (in) or have need (of): to lack purpose

Origin of lack

1
C12: related to Middle Dutch laken to be wanting

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