want (wants plural & 3rd person present) (wanting present participle) (wanted past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you want something, you feel a desire or a need for it.
no cont, no passive
I want a drink... V n
Ian knows exactly what he wants in life... V n
People wanted to know who this talented designer was... V to-inf
They began to want their father to be the same as other daddies... V n to-inf
They didn't want people staring at them as they sat on the lawn, so they put up high walls... V n -ing
He wanted his power recognised... V n -ed
I want my car this colour... V n n
And remember, we want him alive. V n adj/prep
2 verb You can say that you wantto say something to indicate that you are about to say it.
no cont, no passive
Look, I wanted to apologize for today. I think I was a little hard on you. V to-inf
3 verb You use want in questions as a way of making an offer or inviting someone to do something.
no cont, no passive
Do you want another cup of coffee?... V n
Do you want to leave your bike here? V to-inf
4 verb If you say to someone that you want something, or ask them if they wantto do it, you are firmly telling them what you want or what you want them to do.
no cont, no passive
I want an explanation from you, Jeremy... V n
If you have a problem with that, I want you to tell me right now... V n to-inf
Do you want to tell me what all this is about?... V to-inf
I want my money back! V n adv/prep
5 verb If you say that something wants doing, you think that it needs to be done.
(mainly BRIT)
INFORMAL no cont, no passive
(=need)
Her hair wants cutting. V -ing
6 verb If you tell someone that they wantto do a particular thing, you are advising them to do it.
INFORMAL no cont, no passive
(=ought)
You want to be very careful not to have a man like Crevecoeur for an enemy... V to-inf
7 verb If someone is wanted by the police, the police are searching for them because they are thought to have committed a crime.
usu passive
He was wanted for the murder of a magistrate. be V-ed for n
wanted adj ADJ n
He is one of the most wanted criminals in Europe.
8 verb If you want someone, you have a great desire to have sex with them.
Come on, darling. I want you. V n
9 verb If a child is wanted, its mother or another person loves it and is willing to look after it.
Children should be wanted and planned... be V-ed
I want this baby very much, because it certainly will be the last. V n
10 n-sing A want of something is a lack of it.
FORMAL also no det, N of n
(=lack)
...a want of manners and charm...
11 n-plural Your wants are the things that you want.
usu with poss
Supermarkets often claim that they are responding to the wants of consumers by providing packaged foods.
12 If you do something for want of something else, you do it because the other thing is not available or not possible.
for want of phrase PHR n, PHR with v
Many of them had gone into teaching for want of anything better to do... want out phrasal verb If you want out , you no longer want to be involved in a plan, project, or situation that you are part of.
INFORMAL We've had enough, John. We want out... V P
