want
Usage
What are other ways to say want?
The verb want, usually colloquial in use, suggests a feeling of lack or need that imperatively demands fulfillment: People all over the world want peace. Wish implies the feeling of an impulse toward attainment or possession of something; the strength of the feeling may be of greater or lesser intensity: I wish I could go home. Desire, a more formal verb, suggests a strong wish: They desire liberation.
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.
See Examples For:
Those vibrations disrupt the fragile quantum effects researchers want to control.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026
A couple who live nearby, who did not want to be identified, said they had been told it had been converted into asylum-seeker accommodation.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
“Whether they want to admit it or not, many women have always been attracted to bad boys and risk-takers,” said Jordi Hays, a co-host of the technology industry talk show TBPN.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
You’ll also want to keep an eye on how your income affects other parts of your retirement plan.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 8, 2026
Well, she doesn’t want to think about that.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Deena wants to watch Maddie soar, to see her climb the echelons into food media superstardom.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
Sure, he wants to show he hasn’t lost anything because of injury.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
Alongside the retaliation, however, Beijing signaled it still wants to prevent bilateral relations from veering off track.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Walker said the coalition wants the industry to consider whether platforming groups and individuals "sends a message" about whether they "condone particular forms of behaviour".
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
That way, when he sees how supportive and helpful I am, helping him get what he wants, he won’t be able to say no to me.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
"It was either fast food restaurants or three barbers in a row, we wanted a nicer area."
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
She said they also urged her to feature Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declaring he wanted law enforcement to target Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, a statement that was never made.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
Since he had grown accustomed to the car and wanted to keep putting his home EV charger to use, he decided the price tag was worth it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
During a scene where Olmo and Miguel finally fix the stereo and begin dancing, Eimbcke wanted a more rambunctious reaction.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
She wanted the universe to reveal all its secrets to her.”
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
In interviews, Shaboozey has mentioned wanting to turn this record’s story into a graphic novel, or an extended music video, and it’s not hard to imagine a future for him in the film industry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
“I can’t fault people from wanting to graduate early — I mean, I did it myself,” Erle said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
The top comment under the Petal video on YouTube said: "It's not about wanting the old Ariana back. It's about wanting her to be healthy."
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
She grew up wanting to play basketball and dabbling in football, but she has been the de facto face of women who play baseball without picking a bat up for a half-decade.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026
I spat the words, wanting to lash out at someone, to feed the anger and cover up my hurt feelings.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Vocabulary lists containing want
"A Modest Proposal," Vocabulary from the satire
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"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 3
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Selection Vocabulary 2, Unit 2
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