# lack

/ˈɫæk/ (US) · /lˈæk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lack
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. an absence or shortage

noun · CEFR B1

a situation where you do not have something, or you do not have enough of it.

For teachers: the state of being without or having an insufficient quantity of something necessary or desirable.

- The project failed because of a lack of money and time.
- The committee expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the selection process, suggesting it might undermine public trust.

Usage: As a noun, it is frequently followed by the preposition 'of'.

### 2. to not have something

verb · CEFR B1

to not have something that you need or that would be helpful.

For teachers: to be without or deficient in something; functions as a stative verb.

- He is very smart, but he lacks the confidence to speak in public.
- While the novel is technically proficient, it lacks the emotional depth required to truly resonate with a modern audience.

Usage: This is a stative verb and is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form.

Teaching tip: Remind students that while the noun takes 'of', the verb takes a direct object with no preposition.

## Examples

- The plants died because of a lack of water.
- The project failed not because the team was lazy, but due to a total lack of clear communication from management.
- Despite the candidate's impressive academic credentials, the hiring committee remained concerned about her apparent lack of practical experience in high-pressure corporate environments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.