What does want mean in English?

You can learn want Pronunciation, Grammar & Synonyms in this most authoritative English Dictionary.

want Meaning, Definition, Pronunciation, Grammar & Synonyms❤️

want Meaning & Definition

En [ wɒnt]
Us [ wɑːnt]

Meaning of want In English

0 to wish for a particular thing or plan of action. "Want" is not used in polite requests:
- I want some chocolate.
- She wants a meeting with you.
- He's everything you'd ever want in a man - bright, funny and attractive.
- [ + to infinitive ] What do you want to eat?
- [ + obj + to infinitive ] Do you want me to take you to the airport?
- [ + obj + past participle ] This package - do you want it sent today?
- [ + obj + adj ] Do you want this pie hot?
- [ + obj + -ing verb ] I don't want you coming in at two a.m., waking me up.
- You wait - by next year she'll be wanting a bigger house!
- Am I wanted at the meeting tomorrow?
- He is wanted by the police (= they are searching for him).
- I want out of the whole venture before it's too late.
1 to need something:
- Do you think this soup wants a bit of salt?
- [ + -ing verb ] The wine is in the fridge - it just wants cooling for a couple of minutes.
- She wants to tell him now, before it's too late.
- You don't want to put too much pepper in.
2 a lack of something:
- For want of anything better to do I watched television for a while.
- If we fail it won't be for want of trying (= we have tried even if we fail).
3 needing:
- He appeared tired and in want of a shave.
- Our wants are few.
4 to feel that you would like to have something or would like something to happen:
- [ T ] Who wants ice cream?
- [ T ] I want the cold weather to end.
- [ I ] She wanted to get new shoes.
- [ T ] I don’t want him talking about me.
- [ I ] I’ve been wanting to thank you for helping me.
- [ T ] Harry! You’re wanted on the phone.
5 to need something:
- [ I ] You want to be careful to stay out of the sun.

More Definitions of want

Examples of want

I don't want to talk about it anymore - let's drop the subject.
They want to elevate the status of teachers.
I wanted to buy it but it cost too much money.
He wants to spend more time with his family.
There's a queue of companies wanting to sell the product.
At the other extreme were those who wanted the sale of beer to continue.
The designer should select the strategy that he or she wants to apply to explain any specific decision.
Rulers, wanting to maintain the support of the nobles, attempted to divide power and create new positions.

More Examples of want

Trends of want

Grammar of want

0 Want

We use the verb want to talk about wishes and needs, and to give advice:
1 Want meaning ‘wish’ or ‘desire’

We always follow want with a complement of some kind. The complement completes the meaning of the clause. The complement can be a noun or pronoun as an object, or a verb in the to-infinitive form, or an object plus a verb in the to-infinitive form:
2 Want meaning ‘need’

We can use want with the -ing form of a verb to say that something is necessary or should be done. This usage is quite informal:
3 Want for advice and warnings

In informal situations, we can use want plus the to-infinitive to advise, recommend or warn. It is almost always in the present simple, but we can also use it with ’ll (the short form of will):