adj
Common
lacking
LA-kihng
Lacking (adj) means Missing, or not having enough of something needed. Example: “The team was lacking a clear leader, so nobody made decisions.”
adj
1
Missing, or not having enough of something needed.
"This cheese is lacking in pungency."
"A few of the pieces of this jigsaw puzzle are lacking."
"The team was lacking a clear leader, so nobody made decisions."
"Her soup was tasty but lacking a little salt."
"The team was lacking in stamina and lost the match decidedly."
"The report was lacking in detail and had to be rewritten."
How to use lacking
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMissing something, or falling short of what's needed.
Common pairings
sadly lacking
lacking in confidence
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Word forms
- Plural
- lackings
- Comparative
- more lacking
- Superlative
- most lacking
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The team was _____ a clear leader, so nobody made decisions.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for lacking
hacking
backing
jacking
sacking
racking
cracking
blacking
clacking
tracking
quacking
smacking
whacking
See all rhymes for lacking →
Frequently asked questions
What does “lacking” mean?
The word “lacking” means missing, or not having enough of something needed. In plain terms, missing something, or falling short of what's needed.
How do you pronounce “lacking”?
“Lacking” is pronounced LA-kihng (/ˈlækɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “lacking” in a sentence?
Here is “lacking” used in a sentence: “The report was lacking in detail and had to be rewritten.”
What is the opposite of “lacking”?
The opposite of “lacking” — its antonyms — is present.
What part of speech is “lacking”?
“Lacking” is an adjective.
Is “lacking” a common word?
“Lacking” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Is it "lacking in confidence" or "lacking confidence"?
Both are correct. "Lacking confidence" treats lacking like a verb form taking a direct object, while "lacking in confidence" uses the adjective pattern with "in", which is slightly more common when describing character and qualities. The meaning is identical: not having enough of something needed.
What is the difference between lacking and missing?
"Missing" means simply not there: a missing page is absent. "Lacking" adds the idea of insufficiency against a need or standard: something can be present but still lacking if there is not enough of it, as in "the evidence was lacking". Use missing for absence and lacking for shortfall.
What is the difference between lacking and deficient?
Both mean not having enough of something needed. "Deficient" is more formal and technical, common in medical, nutritional, and official contexts such as "deficient in iron", and often implies measurement against a defined requirement. "Lacking" is the everyday choice and can describe anything from resources to confidence.
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