want
noun
- 1
A desire, wish, longing.
- 2
(often followed by of) Lack, absence.
- 3
Poverty.
- 4
Something needed or desired; a thing of which the loss is felt.
- 5
A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before the subsequent deposition took place.
verb
- 1
To wish for or desire (something); to feel a need or desire for; to crave or demand.
“What do you want to eat? I want you to leave. I never wanted to go back to live with my mother.”
- 2
(in particular) To wish, desire or demand to see, have the presence of or do business with.
“Danish police want him for embezzlement.”
- 3
To desire (to experience desire); to wish.
“You can leave if you want.”
- 4
(usually second person, often future tense) To be advised to do something (compare should, ought).
“You’ll want to repeat this three or four times to get the best result.”
- 5
(now colloquial) To lack and be in need of or require (something, such as a noun or verbal noun).
“That chair wants fixing.”
- 6
(now rare) To have occasion for (something requisite or useful); to require or need.
- 7
To be lacking or deficient or absent.
“There was something wanting in the play.”
- 8
To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack.
“The paupers desperately want.”
- 9
To lack and be without, to not have (something).
“She wanted anything she needed.”
- 10
(by extension) To lack and (be able to) do without.
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