wanted; wanting; wants
1
: to be needy or destitute
2
: to have or feel need
never wants for friends
3
: to be necessary or needed
4
: to desire to come, go, or be
the cat wants in
wants out of the deal
1
: to fail to possess especially in customary or required amount : lack
the answer wanted courtesy
2
a
: to have a strong desire for
wanted a chance to rest
b
: to have an inclination to : like
say what you want, he is efficient
3
a
: to have need of : require
the motor wants a tune-up
b
: to suffer from the lack of
thousands still want food and shelter
4
: ought
—used with the infinitive
you want to be very careful what you say—
Claudia Cassidy
Claudia Cassidy5
: to wish or demand the presence of
6
: to hunt or seek in order to apprehend
wanted for murder
Synonyms
Examples of want in a Sentence
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.
The motor wants a tune-up.
Thousands of poor people still want food and shelter.
Tell him that the teacher wants him.
Noun
His attitude shows a want of proper respect.
He is suffering from want of adequate sleep.
people who are living in want
Recent Examples on the Web
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Nov. 2024
As our conversation wraps, Ashe reenters the room — still clad in his prison-stripe pajamas — and wants to say goodbye to both me and his dad.
—William Earl, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
Will Tizard, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
What’s important is that libertarians are decidedly not against child rearing, healthcare, retirement savings, or any of the many things members of the left want, Harris is promising, or both.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for want 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Verb
Or rather producers only want girls as young as their daughters to be in their shows.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Nov. 2024
As our conversation wraps, Ashe reenters the room — still clad in his prison-stripe pajamas — and wants to say goodbye to both me and his dad.
—William Earl, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
One perennial want under any effective totalitarian state is the appeal to history, of course.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
What’s important is that libertarians are decidedly not against child rearing, healthcare, retirement savings, or any of the many things members of the left want, Harris is promising, or both.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for want
Dictionary Entries Near want
Cite this Entry
“Want.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/want. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
want
1 of 2 verb
ˈwȯnt 
also ˈwänt,
ˈwənt
1
: to be without : lack
this coat is wanting a button
2
: to feel or have the need of : require
our house wants painting
3
: to desire, wish, or long for something
wanted a chance to play
4
: ought sense 2
you want to be very careful
5
: to seek in order to arrest
was wanted for murder
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