ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wanted

v.
A1 Beginner US //ˈwɔntɪd// UK //wˈɒntɪd// want·ed

v. to have a desire or a wish for something. You use this when you feel you need or would like to have an object or do an activity.

v. to feel a desire or a requirement for something; to wish for something to happen or be the case. Transitive — requires a direct object or an infinitive phrase.


SIMPLE

She wanted a glass of water after her long walk.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager wanted the report finished by Friday afternoon to prepare for the weekend board meeting.

COMPLEX

The protagonist spent his entire life searching for a sense of belonging that he had always wanted but never quite managed to secure in his hometown.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From want + -ed.

Usage

Transitive verb; takes a noun phrase, a 'to'-infinitive, or an object plus a 'to'-infinitive.

Pitfall

I am wanting a coffeeI want a coffeeWant is a stative verb and is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form in standard English.

© 2026 English Reference