lack
lak
Lack (noun) means the absence or shortage of something needed or wanted. Example: “Lack of sleep made it hard for him to concentrate all day.”
noun
1
The absence or shortage of something needed or wanted.
"Lack of sleep made it hard for him to concentrate all day."
"The delay was caused by a lack of funding."
"Her lack of experience showed during the interview."
verb
1
To not have, or not have enough of, something.
"Some young players lack confidence when they first join the team."
"The village lacks a proper bus service, so many people drive."
"The old car lacked the power to climb steep hills."
How to use lack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot having something, or not having enough of it.
Common mistake
Not to be confused with "lac" (a resin) or "lax" (loose or careless) — all sound similar but mean very different things.
Common pairings
lack of confidence
lack of sleep
lack of interest
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Word forms
- Plural
- lacks
- Third person singular
- lacks
- Past tense
- lacked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ of sleep made it hard for him to concentrate all day.
Etymology
From Old English *læc, related to Germanic words for "slackness" or "deficiency."
Synonyms
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absence
shortfall
miss
dearth
deficiency
deficit
dejection
inadequacy
infrequency
insufficiency
meagerness
nonsufficiency
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for lack
See all rhymes for lack →Frequently asked questions
What does “lack” mean?
The word “lack” means the absence or shortage of something needed or wanted. In plain terms, not having something, or not having enough of it.
How do you pronounce “lack”?
“Lack” is pronounced lak (/læk/ in IPA).
How do you use “lack” in a sentence?
Here is “lack” used in a sentence: “The delay was caused by a lack of funding.”
What is another word for “lack”?
Words with a similar meaning to “lack” include dearth, deficiency, deficit, dejection, inadequacy and infrequency.
What is the opposite of “lack”?
The opposite of “lack” — its antonyms — are adequacy and excess.
What part of speech is “lack”?
Depending on how it is used, “lack” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “lack” come from?
The word “lack” comes from Old English. From Old English *læc, related to Germanic words for "slackness" or "deficiency.".
Is “lack” a common word?
“Lack” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between lack, lax, and lac?
These sound-alikes are unrelated. 'Lack' is a noun (or verb) meaning an absence or shortage of something. 'Lax' is an adjective meaning loose, slack, or not strict. 'Lac' is a resin secreted by insects, used to make shellac. Only 'lack' concerns something missing.
What is the difference between lack and shortage?
A lack can mean a complete absence — having none of something at all — or simply not enough. A shortage specifically means there is some, but less than is needed. So you can lack experience entirely, whereas a water shortage means water exists but supply falls short of demand.
What is the opposite of lack?
The opposite of lack is abundance or plenty — having as much of something as you need, or more. Words like 'surplus,' 'wealth,' and 'excess' also stand against it. Where lack points to something missing, these point to a full or overflowing supply.
What is an example of 'lack' in a sentence?
'A lack of sleep left her exhausted' shows something needed in short supply. 'The plan failed for lack of funding' points to a missing resource. In each case, 'lack' names the gap between what was needed or wanted and what was actually there.
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