want

noun

UK /wɒnt/

Word Forms

singular	want
plural	wants

1
countable/uncountable formala lack of something
want of:
His illness was caused by overwork and want of sleep.
Their work reveals a want of skill.
Synonyms and related words
Absence and lack
absence
lack
loss
1. 1a
  uncountable a lack of money, food, and other things someone needs to live
  They were living in obvious want and squalor.
  Synonyms and related words
  Absence and lack
  absence
  lack
  loss
  Synonyms and related words
  The state of being poor
  poverty
  austerity
  want
2

wants
plural things that you want or need
This system has been designed to supply all your wants.
wants and needs:
We aim to satisfy our customers’ wants and needs.
Synonyms and related words
Things you want or need
wants
wish
the goods
3
a lot of want
a strong desire
There’s a lot of want from us as a team.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 08/05/2014
Open Dictionary - May2014

phrases

for want of a better word/phrase/term

for want of something

not for (the) want of trying

want

noun

US /wɑnt/

Word Forms

singular	want
plural	wants

1
countable/uncountable formala lack of something
want of:
His illness was caused by overwork and want of sleep.
Their work reveals a want of skill.
Synonyms and related words
Absence and lack
absence
lack
loss
1. 1a
  uncountable a lack of money, food, and other things someone needs to live
  They were living in obvious want and squalor.
  Synonyms and related words
  Absence and lack
  absence
  lack
  loss
  Synonyms and related words
  The state of being poor
  poverty
  austerity
  want
2

wants
plural things that you want or need
This system has been designed to supply all your wants.
wants and needs:
We aim to satisfy our customers’ wants and needs.
Synonyms and related words
Things you want or need
wants
wish
the goods
3
a lot of want
a strong desire
There’s a lot of want from us as a team.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 08/05/2014
Open Dictionary - May2014

phrases

for want of a better word/phrase/term

for want of something

not for (the) want of trying

want

verb transitive

UK /wɒnt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	want
he/she/it	wants
present participle	wanting
past tense	wanted
past participle	wanted

1
to feel that you would like to have, keep, or do something
Do you still want these old letters?
want something for something:
What do you want for your birthday?
want to do something:
Liz wants to see the gardens.
Synonyms and related words
To want something
want
wish
hope
Synonyms and related words
To want to do something
want
wish
fancy
1. 1a
  to feel that you would like someone to do something or would like something to happen
  want someone/something to do something:
  Her parents didn’t want her to marry him.
  want something of/from someone:
  I wish I knew exactly what they wanted of me.
  want something done:
  Mrs Miller wants the entire house repainted.
  Synonyms and related words
  To want something
  want
  wish
  hope
2. 1b
  informalto feel that you would like someone or something to be in a particular place or doing a particular job
  I want those boxes out of the living room by tomorrow!
  We want Stephen as chairman.
  Synonyms and related words
  To want something
  want
  wish
  hope
3. 1c
  to ask for someone because you would like to see or speak to them
  Mum wants you – she’s in the kitchen.
  You’re wanted on the telephone.
  The head wants you in her office after school.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a request
  call away
  call on
  send for
2
to need something
We desperately want rain.
She wants help if she’s going to sort out her financial problems.
You won’t want much money on a camping holiday.
Synonyms and related words
To need something
need
require
cry out for
1. 2a
  Britishif something wants doing, it needs to be done
  The supper dishes want washing.
  This bill wants paying.
  Synonyms and related words
  Necessary
  necessary
  essential
  vital
2. 2b
  Britishinformalto deserve something
  That rascal! He wants a good kick up the backside!
  Synonyms and related words
  Deserving and deserved
  deserve
  deserving
  deserved
3
to feel that you would like to have sex with someone
She wanted him more than ever.
Synonyms and related words
Feeling sexual excitement or desire
on the pull
arouse
desire

phrases

all someone wants

be/have everything someone wants

do you want something?

have someone just where you want them

if you want

if you want my advice/opinion

I want...

I want to say/thank/tell etc

I wanted...

just what I (have always) wanted

not want to be/appear/sound etc

want nothing more (than)

what does someone want with something?

what do you want?

who wants (to do) something?

you want/don’t want to do something

phrasal verbs

want for

want in

want out

want

verb transitive

US /wɑnt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	want
he/she/it	wants
present participle	wanting
past tense	wanted
past participle	wanted

1
to feel that you would like to have, keep, or do something
Do you still want these old letters?
want something for something:
What do you want for your birthday?
want to do something:
Liz wants to go to the circus.
Synonyms and related words
To want something
want
wish
hope
Synonyms and related words
To want to do something
want
wish
ache
1. 1a
  to feel that you would like someone to do something or would like something to happen
  want someone/something to do something:
  Her parents didn’t want her to marry him.
  want something of/from someone:
  I wish I knew exactly what they wanted of me.
  want something done:
  Mrs. Miller wants the entire house repainted.
  Synonyms and related words
  To want something
  want
  wish
  hope
2. 1b
  informalto feel that you would like someone or something to be in a particular place or doing a particular job
  I want those boxes out of the living room by tomorrow!
  We want Stephen as chairman.
  Synonyms and related words
  To want something
  want
  wish
  hope
3. 1c
  to ask for someone because you would like to see or speak to them
  Mom wants you – she’s in the kitchen.
  You’re wanted on the telephone.
  The principal wants you in her office after school.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a request
  ask for
  invite
  request
2
mainly Britishto need something
We desperately want rain.
You won’t want much money on a camping trip.
Synonyms and related words
To need something
need
require
cry out for
1. 2a
  Britishif something wants doing, it needs to be done
  This bill wants paying.
  Synonyms and related words
  Necessary
  necessary
  essential
  vital
2. 2b
  Britishinformalto deserve something
  That rascal! He wants a good kick up the backside!
  Synonyms and related words
  Deserving and deserved
  deserve
  deserving
  deserved
3
spokenused for telling someone what they should do
You want to take Pine Street – it’s faster.
Synonyms and related words
Ways of encouraging or telling someone to do something
I wish
go for it
don’t hesitate to do something
4
to feel that you would like to have sex with someone
She wanted him more than ever.
Synonyms and related words
Feeling sexual excitement or desire
on the pull
arouse
desire

phrases

all someone wants

be/have everything someone wants

do you want something?

have someone just where you want them

if you want

if you want my advice/opinion

I (just) wanted...

I want...

I want to say/thank/tell etc.

just what I (have always) wanted

not want to be/appear/sound etc.

want nothing more (than)

what does someone want with something?

what do you want?

who wants (to do) something?

you want/don’t want to do something

phrasal verbs

want for

want in

want out

want ​‌

wants

a lot of want

want ​‌

wants

a lot of want

want ​‌‌‌

want ​‌‌‌

want

want

want

want