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want - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'want' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Want [ v. i.]
- The state of not having; the condition of being without anything; absence or scarcity of what is needed or desired; deficiency; lack; as, a want of power or knowledge for any purpose; want of food and clothing.
- Specifically, absence or lack of necessaries; destitution; poverty; penury; indigence; need.
- That which is needed or desired; a thing of which the loss is felt; what is not possessed, and is necessary for use or pleasure.
- A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before the subsequent deposition took place.
- To be absent; to be deficient or lacking; to fail; not to be sufficient; to fall or come short; to lack; -- often used impersonally with of; as, it wants ten minutes of four.
- To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack.
2 . Want [ v. t.]
- To be without; to be destitute of, or deficient in; not to have; to lack; as, to want knowledge; to want judgment; to want learning; to want food and clothing.
- To have occasion for, as useful, proper, or requisite; to require; to need; as, in winter we want a fire; in summer we want cooling breezes.
- To feel need of; to wish or long for; to desire; to crave.

Meaning of 'want' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . want [ n]
Meaning (1):
- the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
Example in sentence:
  • for want of a nail the shoe was lost;
  • there is a serious lack of insight into the problem;
  • water is the critical deficiency in desert regions
Meaning (2):
- a specific feeling of desire
Example in sentence:
  • he got his wish;
  • he was above all wishing and desire
Meaning (3):
- anything that is necessary but lacking
Example in sentence:
  • he had sufficient means to meet his simple needs;
  • I tried to supply his wants
4 . want [ v]
Meaning (4):
- be without, lack; be deficient in
Example in sentence:
  • flood victims wanting food and shelter;
  • want courtesy;
  • want the strength to go on living
Meaning (5):
- feel or have a desire for; want strongly
Example in sentence:
  • I want my own room;
  • I want to go home now
Meaning (6):
- wish or demand the presence of
Example in sentence:
  • I want you here at noon!
Meaning (7):
- have need of
Example in sentence:
  • This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner
Meaning (8):
- hunt or look for; want for a particular reason
Example in sentence:
  • Uncle Sam wants you;
  • Your former neighbor is wanted by the FBI

Nearby Words:

wan wand wander wandered wanderer wandering wanderingly wanderment wanderoo wandy

See 'want' also in:

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