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.
"I don't want to buy new things that he's only going to wear for a few months or a few weeks," she said.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
“I don’t want to build a resort,” Balliu said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
"None of them want to serve," he said.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
Its unlikely he “would want to do anything that threatens financial stability, particularly so soon after assuming office,” wrote Dario Perkins, global macroeconomist at TS Lombard.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
I think she was surprised that I didn’t actually want to be able to Flash.
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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