want
- 01 A1 Beginner
v.to wish for something or want to do something.
v.to feel a desire or wish for something; to crave or hanker after an object or action.
Simple“I want to go to the park because the weather is beautiful.”
In context“The investors want a clear commitment from the board before they agree to provide any further capital for the project.”
UsageUsually followed by a noun phrase or a 'to' infinitive.
PitfallI am wanting a coffee right now. I want a coffee right now.As a stative verb, 'want' is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form in standard English.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to need something or require attention.
v.to require or be in need of something; often used for objects that need maintenance.
Simple“The garden really wants some water after this long dry spell.”
In context“The old wooden fence wants painting before the winter rains cause the timber to rot.”
UsageOften followed by a gerund (-ing) in British English, e.g., 'the car wants washing'.
Teacher's tipThis usage is more common in British English than American English.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.you use this when you are telling someone what they should do.
v.used in the second person to offer advice or a recommendation, similar to 'should' or 'ought to'.
Simple“You want to be careful when walking on those icy stairs.”
In context“You want to make sure the contract is signed by both parties before you start any actual construction work.”
UsageAlmost always used with 'you' as the subject.
- 04 B1 Intermediate
n.a feeling of wanting something.
n.a specific desire, wish, or longing for something.
Simple“The child had a sudden want for a chocolate ice cream.”
In context“The report highlights the public's growing want for more transparent government communication regarding environmental policies.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a situation where there is not enough of something.
n.the state of being without something necessary or desirable; a deficiency.
Simple“The plants died for want of water during the summer.”
In context“The project eventually failed, not for want of effort from the staff, but due to a total lack of financial support.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'for want of'.
Synonyms - 06 C1 Advanced
n.the state of being very poor and not having what you need.
n.a state of extreme poverty or destitution.
Simple“The charity works to help families living in want and hunger.”
In context“The Victorian novelist often depicted the stark contrast between the luxury of the upper classes and the desperate want of the urban poor.”
UsageUsually uncountable in this sense.
Teacher's tipOften found in older literature or formal discussions about social welfare.
Usage want to see · want to know · want to make
From Middle English wanten (“to lack, to need”), from Old Norse vanta (“to lack”), from Proto-Germanic wanatōną (“to be wanting, lack”), from wanô (“lack, deficiency”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (“empty”). Cognate with Middle High German wan (“not full, empty”), Middle Dutch wan (“empty, poor”), Old English wana (“want, lack, absence, deficiency”), Latin vanus (“empty”). See wan, wan-.
From Middle English wont (“mole”), from Old English wand, wond, from Proto-Germanic *wanduz.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.