Advertisement
Advertisement
want
[ wont, wawnt ]
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.
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.
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.
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.
- a sense of lack or need of something:
to feel a vague want.
want
1/ wɒnt /
verb
- 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
noun
- 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
want
2/ wɒnt /
noun
- dialect.a mole
Discover More
Derived Forms
- ˈwanter, noun
Discover More
Other Words From
- wanter noun
- wantless adjective
- wantless·ness noun
- self-want noun
- un·wanted adjective
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of want1
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of want1
Origin of want2
Discover More
Idioms and Phrases
- 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.
More idioms and phrases containing want
- waste not, want not
Advertisement
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse