want
8 ENTRIES FOUND:
wants;
wanted;
wanting
wants;
wanted;
wanting
Britannica Dictionary definition of WANT
1
[+ object]
:
to desire or wish for (something)
— often followed by to + verb
-
Do you want more coffee?
-
He wants a bicycle for his birthday.
-
I just wanted a chance to rest.
-
She wanted more time to finish the test.
-
Do you want anything from the store?
-
What do you want for Christmas?
-
You can choose whichever color you want.
-
She wants to go to college next year.
-
I want to be alone.
-
“How old are you?” “Well, if you really want to know, I'm 52.”
-
I'm supposed to work late tonight, but I really don't want to (do it).
-
You can do whatever you want to (do).
-
You can say what you want (to say) about his personality, but there's no denying that he is efficient.
-
I was so angry that I wanted to scream. [=that I felt like screaming]
2
[+ object]
a
:
to need (something)
-
Our house wants painting.
-
The motor wants a tune-up.
b
[+ object]
:
to be without (something needed)
:
lack
-
Thousands of poor people still want food and shelter.
-
He's not the most talented player, but he doesn't want self-confidence. [=he has a lot of self-confidence]
3
not used in progressive tenses
[+ object]
a
:
to wish or demand to see or talk to (someone)
-
Tell him that the teacher wants him.
-
The police want him for questioning.
-
You're wanted on the phone. [=someone wants to speak to you on the phone]
b
:
to desire (someone) to do something
— sometimes + for in informal U.S. English
-
Your mother wants you to come home.
-
I just want him to be honest with me.
-
Do you want me to bring back your book?
-
I want for you to do this. = What I want is for you to do this.
c
:
to seek (someone) in order to make an arrest
— usually used as (be) wanted
-
The police want him for murder.
-
The suspect was wanted for murder.
-
one of the nation's most wanted criminals
4
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[no object]
informal
:
to desire to move or be in or out of a place
— usually used figuratively
-
(chiefly US) The cat wants in/out. [=the cat wants to go inside/outside]
-
At first she wanted in on the deal [=she wanted to be included in the deal], but now she wants out of it. [=she does not want to be included]
-
He desperately wanted (back) into the game. [=wanted to get (back) into the game]
5
not used in progressive tenses,
[+ object]
informal
— used to give advice about what someone should do or be
— followed by to + verb
-
You want to be very careful [=you should be very careful] when you pull out of the parking lot.
-
We might want to leave a little early. [=maybe we should leave a little early]
6
not used in progressive tenses,
[+ object]
:
to feel sexual desire for (someone)
-
You can tell that he wants her.
want for
[phrasal verb]
want for (something or someone)
:
to be without (someone or something)
:
to lack (someone or something)
—
see also 1want 3b (above)
-
She certainly will never want for friends. [=she will always have friends]
want no part of/in
want nothing to do with
want rid of
2
want
/ˈwɑːnt/
noun
plural
wants
2
want
/ˈwɑːnt/
noun
plural
wants
Britannica Dictionary definition of WANT
1
formal
:
the state or condition of not having any or enough of something
:
lack
[singular]
-
His attitude shows a want of proper respect.
[noncount]
-
He is suffering from want of adequate sleep.
2
[count]
:
something that is desired or needed
— usually plural
-
We can supply all your wants.
-
The company caters to the wants and needs of its customers.
3
[noncount]
:
the state or condition of being poor
-
people who are living in want
for (the) want of
:
because of not having (something)
:
because (something) does not exist or is not available
-
For want of a better name [=since we don't have a better name to use], let's call it “Operation One.”
-
People are dying for want of medical treatment. [=because they are not getting medical treatment]
-
The project failed for the want of adequate funding.
in want of
:
in the condition of wanting or needing (something)
-
The house is in want of repairs. [=the house needs to be repaired]
not for want of
:
not because of not having or doing (something)
-
Her failure to get the information was not for want of trying. [=was not because she did not try]
