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.
“They do not want to be forced to do more simply because the market has become overenthusiastic about hikes.”
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
He added: "The clock is ticking if we want to halt the worst effects of planetary warming but there is still time."
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
And then you want to say them more often than they’re written.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Now, make your own call on whether or how much you want to invest.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
I take out my laptop, not because I’m excited to do my school stuff but because I don’t want to think about Grandma and my mom’s relationship anymore.
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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