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.
“This price war is going to be good and we want to help enable that,” said Grinberg.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
"I don't want to die and meet my parents up there and they…" Miten pauses.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at the trade group, the National Association of Realtors, says would-be buyers may not want to stay on the sidelines.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
“I want to thank Dan for leading the finance organization that will support Adobe’s next chapter of growth in the AI era, and wish him all the best,” he added.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
Wes watches the happy look on my face and says, “Exactly! That feeling you got—when I’m a therapist, I want to use music to give that same feeling to my clients.”
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
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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