Verb / Noun A2 — Elementary /wɒnt/

Want — Definition, Examples & Usage

To desire or wish for something — one of the most essential verbs in everyday English.

Quick Definition

Want (verb) — to desire or wish for something: "I want to improve my English writing skills."
Want (noun, formal/literary) — a need or lack of something: "There is no want of enthusiasm among the students."

What Does Want Mean?

Want comes from Old Norse vanta, meaning "to be lacking". It entered Middle English around the 13th century with the sense of lacking or being without something. Over time the dominant sense shifted to expressing desire — what one wishes to have or do — and that is the meaning most learners of English encounter first.

As a verb, want is one of the highest-frequency words in the English language. It expresses a direct desire or wish: "She wants to become a doctor." Unlike wish, which often implies something unreal or unlikely, want is used for genuine, achievable desires in the present.

As a noun, want is now chiefly formal or literary, appearing in fixed phrases such as "for want of" (due to a lack of) and "in want" (in poverty). In everyday speech, need or desire is more common in the noun slot.

Example Sentences

SentenceLevelUsage note
I want to improve my English writing skills.A2want + to-infinitive (personal goal)
Do you want a cup of tea?A2want + noun object (offer/request)
She wants her children to be happy and healthy.B1want + object + to-infinitive
The manager wants the report finished by Friday.B1want + object + past participle
He badly wanted to prove himself, but the opportunity never came.B2adverb intensifier + want + to-infinitive
The project failed for want of adequate funding.C1want as noun in formal fixed phrase

Collocations

CollocationExample
really wantI really want to visit Japan one day.
desperately wantShe desperately wanted to pass the exam.
badly wantHe badly wants to get into university.
want to knowDo you want to know the answer?
want backI want my book back, please.
want outAfter ten years, she finally wants out of the deal.
want for nothingThe children want for nothing in that household.
all you wantYou can practise as much as you want.
what you wantTell me what you want and I will help.
not want toI do not want to make things worse.

Usage Notes

Verb patterns with want

want + noun: "I want a coffee." (direct object)

want + to-infinitive: "I want to learn Spanish." (personal desire)

want + object + to-infinitive: "I want you to read this." (desire involving another person)

want + object + past participle: "I want it done by Monday." (desire for a result)

Note: want is not normally used in the continuous form in British English. Say "I want a coffee" — not "I am wanting a coffee". Like other stative verbs (know, need, love), want describes a state rather than an action.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

I want eating something sweet. (want + gerund)

I want to eat something sweet. (want + to-infinitive)

She is wanting a new laptop. (want in continuous form)

She wants a new laptop. (want as a stative verb — no continuous)

I want that you help me. (want + that-clause)

I want you to help me. (want + object + to-infinitive)

Related Words

wanted wanting unwanted wants desire wish need hope long for crave

Synonyms

desire wish for hope for crave long for yearn for fancy

Antonyms

not want reject refuse dislike dread

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Frequently Asked Questions about “want”

What does want mean in English?
Want is most commonly a verb meaning to desire or wish for something: 'I want a cup of tea.' It can also be a noun meaning a need or lack of something: 'a want of fresh ideas.' In everyday British English the verb sense is by far the most frequent.
What is the difference between want and wish?
Want is used for real, achievable desires in the present: 'I want to go to university.' Wish is used for unreal or hypothetical desires, often with past tense grammar: 'I wish I could fly.' A common rule: use want for things that are genuinely possible, and wish for things that are unlikely or impossible.
Is it correct to say want + infinitive or want + gerund?
Want is followed by a to-infinitive, not a gerund. Say 'I want to eat' — not 'I want eating.' When want is followed by an object and then another verb, use the to-infinitive: 'I want you to listen carefully.' This is one of the most common grammar points for ESL learners.
What is the past tense of want?
The past tense is wanted and the past participle is also wanted. Want is a regular verb: want / wanted / wanted. Example: 'She wanted to study abroad but could not afford the fees.'
What is the difference between want and need?
Need implies that something is necessary or required; without it there is a problem. Want implies a desire that may or may not be necessary. 'I need water to survive' (necessity) vs 'I want a glass of juice' (preference). In informal British English people often use want where need would be more precise.
Can want be used as a noun?
Yes, although the noun use is more formal or literary. 'For want of a better word' means because a better word cannot be found. 'In want' is an old phrase meaning in poverty or lacking necessities. The plural 'wants' can mean desires or requirements: 'The salesperson asked about my wants and needs.'
What are common collocations with want?
Common collocations include: really want, desperately want, badly want, want to know, want back, want out. With nouns: want attention, want change, want answers. Fixed phrases: want for nothing (lack nothing), be wanted (be sought or desired by others).
What is the origin of the word want?
Want comes from Old Norse 'vanta', meaning to be lacking or deficient. It entered Middle English around the 13th century with the sense of lacking something. The meaning gradually shifted from 'to lack' to 'to desire', and both senses survive in modern English, though 'to desire' is now dominant in everyday speech.
How do you use want in a polite request?
Using want directly can sound blunt in formal contexts: 'I want a coffee' is fine between friends but may seem rude in a shop or meeting. For polite requests prefer 'I would like', 'Could I have', or 'I would love'. In British English 'I'd like' is the standard polite alternative to 'I want'.
How can I practise using want in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise want in context, or use the Flash Cards tool to test vocabulary including want and related forms (wanted, wanting, wants, unwanted). Writing a short paragraph about your goals using want + infinitive is also a highly effective practice method.