want
/wɔnt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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
- a specific feeling of desire
- he got his wish
- he was above all wishing and desire
- anything that is necessary but lacking
- he had sufficient means to meet his simple needs
- I tried to supply his wants
- 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
- a state of extreme poverty
Verb
- be without, lack; be deficient in
- want courtesy
- want the strength to go on living
- flood victims wanting food and shelter
- wish or demand the presence of
- I want you here at noon!
- hunt or look for; want for a particular reason
- Your former neighbor is wanted by the FBI
- Uncle Sam wants you
- have need of
- This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner
- feel or have a desire for; want strongly
- I want to go home now
- I want my own room