verb

want

wont

verb

To wish for or desire something.

"She wants a new laptop for her birthday."

"They want to move to the coast someday."

To need or require something.

"This recipe wants a pinch more salt."

noun

A desire or wish.

"He couldn't shake the want for something more exciting."

A lack or shortage of something needed.

"The project failed for want of proper funding."

How to Use Want

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo wish for something, or (less commonly) to be lacking something.

Common pairings

want something badly for want of wants and needs

Word Forms

wanted past tense, want plural, wanted plural, wants plural, wants plural, wants singular, want singular, wanted singular, wantest singular, wantedst singular, wanteth singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “want” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ a new laptop for her birthday.

Etymology

From Old Norse vanta, "to lack," ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "deficiency" — the same root that gives us "wane" and "wan."

Synonyms

View more →

set one's heart on wish for would like ache appetize aspire covet crave desire dream eye fancy

Antonyms

dislike hate unwant

Related Words

love ache hobby eye choose dream hurt substance

Rhymes for want

ant cant pant rant Kant Gant Sant plant chant giant avant scant

See all rhymes for want →

People Also Searched

set one's heart on wish for would like ache appetize aspire covet crave desire dream eye fancy