View synonyms for want

want

[ wont, wawnt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

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

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.

something wanted or needed; necessity:
My wants are few.
Synonyms: desideratum
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.
Synonyms: paucity, insufficiency, inadequacy, scarcity, dearth
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.
Synonyms: indigence, penury, privation
a sense of lack or need of something:
to feel a vague want.

want

/ wɒnt /

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
intrusually used with a negative and often foll byfor 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 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
informal.
tr; takes an infinitive 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

want

/ wɒnt /

Origin of want¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English wante, from Old Norse vanta “to lack”

Origin of want¹

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

Origin of want²

Old English wand

want in / out, Chiefly Midland.
1. to desire to enter or leave:
  The cat wants in.
2. Informal. to desire acceptance in or release from something specified:
  I talked with Louie about our plan, and he wants in.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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