Definition

1. Noun:

   • A specific feeling of desire: A wish or longing for something.
   • Anything that is necessary but lacking: A need or requirement that is not met.
   • The state of needing something that is absent or unavailable: A lack or deficiency of something essential.
   • A state of extreme poverty: A condition of severe need or destitution.

2. Verb:

   • To be without, lack; be deficient in: To not have enough of something or to be missing something.
   • To wish or demand the presence of: To desire someone to be somewhere.
   • To hunt or look for; want for a particular reason: To seek someone, often for legal reasons.
   • To have need of: To require something for a specific purpose.
   • To feel or have a desire for; want strongly: To have a strong wish to possess or do something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He got his want. (He obtained the thing he desired.)
  • He had sufficient means to meet his simple wants. (He had enough money for his basic needs.)
  • For want of a nail the shoe was lost. (Because of the lack of a nail, the shoe was lost.)

• Verb:

  • This situation wants courtesy. (This situation lacks politeness.)
  • I want you here at noon! (I demand that you be present here at noon.)
  • Your former neighbor is wanted by the FBI. (Your former neighbor is being sought by the FBI.)
  • This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner. (This piano requires the attention of a skilled tuner.)
  • I want to go home now. (I strongly desire to go home now.)

Advanced Usage

• "to want for nothing": To lack nothing; to have everything one needs.

  • Thanks to his parents, the child wanted for nothing. (The child lacked nothing because of his parents.)

• "to be found wanting": To be judged as lacking or inadequate.

  • When the crisis came, their preparations were found wanting. (Their preparations were insufficient when the crisis happened.)

Variants and Related Words

• Wanting (adj): Lacking or deficient.

  • His explanation was wanting in detail. (His explanation lacked sufficient detail.)

• Wanter (n): (Rare) One who wants or desires something.

Synonyms

• Desire (v/n): To wish for strongly; a strong wish.
• Lack (v/n): To be without; the state of being without.
• Need (v/n): To require; a necessity.
• Require (v): To need.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Want in: (Informal) To wish to enter or be included in something.

  • The new investor wants in on the deal. (The new investor wishes to be part of the deal.)

• Want out: (Informal) To wish to leave or escape from a situation.

  • After years in the business, she wants out. (She wishes to leave the business after many years.)

Related Idioms

• Waste not, want not: If you do not waste resources, you will not be in need.

  • He saved everything, believing in the saying "waste not, want not". (He saved everything, believing that not wasting prevents future need.)

• Leave much to be wanted: To be very unsatisfactory or inadequate.

  • The service at the restaurant left much to be wanted. (The service at the restaurant was very poor.)

Noun

1. a specific feeling of desire
   • he got his wish
   • he was above all wishing and desire
2. anything that is necessary but lacking
   • he had sufficient means to meet his simple needs
   • I tried to supply his wants
3. the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
   • there is a serious lack of insight into the problem
   • water is the critical deficiency in desert regions
   • for want of a nail the shoe was lost
4. a state of extreme poverty

Verb

1. be without, lack; be deficient in
   • want courtesy
   • want the strength to go on living
   • flood victims wanting food and shelter
2. wish or demand the presence of
   • I want you here at noon!
3. hunt or look for; want for a particular reason
   • Your former neighbor is wanted by the FBI
   • Uncle Sam wants you
4. have need of
   • This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner
5. feel or have a desire for; want strongly
   • I want to go home now
   • I want my own room