want
wont
Want (verb) means to wish for or desire something. Example: “She wants a new laptop for her birthday.”
verb
1
To wish for or desire something.
"She wants a new laptop for her birthday."
"They want to move to the coast someday."
"I want a quiet weekend with nothing planned at all."
2
To need or require something.
"This recipe wants a pinch more salt."
"These old walls want a fresh coat of paint."
"The garden wants watering after such a dry week."
noun
1
A desire or wish.
"Her want for adventure grew stronger with every passing year."
"There was a deep want in him to see the sea again."
"He couldn't shake the want for something more exciting."
2
A lack or shortage of something needed.
"The project failed for want of proper funding."
"Many plants died for want of water during the heatwave."
"The team lost the match through want of practice."
How to use want
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo wish for something, or (less commonly) to be lacking something.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
want something badly
for want of
wants and needs
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Word forms
- Plural
- wants
- Third person singular
- wants
- Past tense
- wanted
- Archaic forms
- wantest, wantedst, wanteth
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 →
long for
yearn for
neediness
deprivation
wishing
deficiency
wish
need
privation
lack
set one's heart on
wish for
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for want
See all rhymes for want →Frequently asked questions
What does “want” mean?
The word “want” means to wish for or desire something. In plain terms, to wish for something, or (less commonly) to be lacking something.
How do you pronounce “want”?
“Want” is pronounced wont (/wɑnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “want” in a sentence?
Here is “want” used in a sentence: “She wants a new laptop for her birthday.”
What is another word for “want”?
Words with a similar meaning to “want” include set one's heart on, wish for, would like, ache, appetize and aspire.
What is the opposite of “want”?
The opposite of “want” — its antonyms — are dislike, hate and unwant.
What part of speech is “want”?
Depending on how it is used, “want” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “want” come from?
The word “want” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse vanta, "to lack," ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "deficiency" — the same root that gives us "wane" and "wan.".
Is “want” a common word?
“Want” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between want and need?
Want means to desire something because you would like it, as in 'I want a coffee.' Need means to require something because it is necessary, as in 'I need water to live.' You can want things you don't need, and need things you don't particularly want.
What is the difference between want and wish?
Want expresses a practical desire for something achievable, as in 'I want a new phone.' Wish often expresses a longing for something unlikely, impossible, or contrary to fact, as in 'I wish I could fly.' Wish tends to feel more hopeful, dreamy, or wistful than want.
What is an example of want in a sentence?
'They want a bigger garden.' Here want expresses their desire for something they would like to have. Other examples include 'Do you want to come with us?' offering an invitation, and 'She has always wanted to travel,' describing a long-held wish or desire.
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