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.
"A lot of folk aren't able to get what they want now, they have to go to Dundee, Aberdeen, even further afield."
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 don’t want to paint yourself as the mother or father of the group,” Abrahams says.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
She said this has left Rachel "very, very shaken" and "doesn't want to leave the house".
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
“You want to break the law? Read this. You can go to jail for a false claim.”
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
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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