Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

lack

[lak] / læk /




Usage

What are other ways to say lack? The verb lack means to be without or to have less than a desirable quantity of something: to lack courage, sufficient money, enough members to make a quorum. Need often suggests urgency, stressing the necessity of supplying what is lacking: to need an operation, better food, a match to light the fire. Require, which expresses necessity as strongly as need, occurs most frequently in serious or formal contexts: Your presence at the hearing is required. Successful experimentation requires careful attention to detail.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Unlike large language models trained on vast quantities of internet content, robots lack comparable real-world datasets.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

Many are concerned about the lack of visible progress on street homelessness.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

The crisis we face is not a lack of information; it is a profound detachment from reality.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

The song is an ode to life’s impressive lack of meaning.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

Despite the lack of leaves, the blackened trunks and fingerlike branches filled in all gaps, making the forest a huge ruin of impenetrability.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley




Vocabulary lists containing lack


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "lack" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com