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.
When things are like that you don't want to make any decisions.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
While sportsbooks hope for a lively tournament that keeps bettors engaged, they don’t want things to get too wild, like the last World Cup final.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
“You just want to make things run as smoothly as possible.”
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
"We want it to be full of energy and we just want everyone to come and have some fun because what we don't have this time round is the pressure," says Nash.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
Well, she doesn’t want to think about that.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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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