From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishwantwant1 /wɒnt $ wɒːnt, wɑːnt/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 desire [transitive]WANT to have a desire for something I really want a drink. What do you want for your birthday? She’d always wanted to go to Thailand. I don’t want Linda to hear about this. He didn’t want the holiday to end. You can order whatever you want. This shampoo is mild enough to use every day if you want. If she doesn’t get what she wants, she’s not happy. He wanted that job so badly he was willing to kill for it. They desperately wanted a son. What I want to know is when we’re going to get paid. All I want is the chance to prove myself. Oh thank you, it’s just what I’ve always wanted.2 need [transitive]NEED used to say that you need something or to ask someone firmly to do something for you Do you still want these magazines, or can I throw them out?want something done I want that letter typed today.want somebody to do something I want you to find out what they’re planning.make you want to cry/throw up etc (=give you a strong feeling that you must do something) It always makes me want to sneeze. What do you want with a tool kit (=what do you need it for)?want doing British English informal (=need to be done) The carpet really wants cleaning.3 ASK FOR something/ASK somebody TO DO somethingoffer [transitive] used when offering or suggesting something to someone Do you want a drink? Do you want me to come with you? Want a game of chess? Who wants a cup of coffee (=used to offer something to a group of people)?4 should [transitive] spoken especially British EnglishSHOULD/OUGHT TO used to say that something is sensible or that someone should do it, especially when giving advicemay/might want to do something You might want to install anti-virus software.wouldn’t want to do something (=used to say something would not be a good idea) I wouldn’t want to come here at night.want to do something You want to see a doctor about that cough. You don’t want to leave that – it’ll get wet.5 → what do you want?6 ask for somebody [transitive]ASK FOR something/ASK somebody TO DO something to ask for someone to come and talk to you, or to come to a particular place You’re wanted on the phone. Christine wants you in her office now. 7 lack [intransitive, transitive] formalNOT HAVE to suffer because you do not have something In many poorer countries, people still want basic food and shelter.8 → if you want9 → who wants ...?10 → I just wanted to say/know etc11 → I don’t want to sound/be ..., but ...12 sex [transitive] informal if you want someone, you want to have sex with themCOLLOCATIONSadverbsvery muchShe very much wanted to do the right thing.badlyHow badly do you want to win?desperatelyHe desperately wants his mum and dad to get back together.reallyDo you really want to succeed?justI just want to be left alone.phraseswhatever/anything you wantNow he can do whatever he wants.whenever you wantJoanna is happy for him to see his son whenever he wants.wherever you wantYou can park wherever you want.if you want (to)You can go if you want.get what you wantYou’ve got what you wanted, so you might as well leave.do what you wantYou can do what you want, instead of being told what to do.what I want to do is ...What I want to do is develop the skills I already have.all I want is ...All I want is a normal life.it’s just what I’ve always wanted (=used to thank someone for a present that you really like)Thanks for the bread machine – it’s just what I’ve always wanted. GrammarPatterns with want• You want something: Do you want some more coffee? • You want to do something: Do you want to have some more coffee? • You want someone to do something: They want their son to go to a good university. • Want is not usually followed by a ‘that’ clause. ✗Don’t say: They want that their son goes to a good university.• You say I don’t want someone doing something, when this is annoying or causes problems: I don’t want other people telling me how to spend my money. You can also say: I don’t want other people to tell me how to spend my money. Using the progressive• Want is not usually used in the progressive. You say: I want to sleep now.I want some coffee. ✗Don’t say: I am wanting some coffee.• In spoken English, people sometimes say I’m wanting to describe their feelings about something that is happening right now or that they have just seen or heard about: Suddenly I’m wanting to know more about this man. → want for something → want in → want out→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
want• You can go back to bed for a while if you want.• My parents moved out of London because they wanted a bigger house.• Major wanted chartered citizens to call Whitehall and get cones on clogged motorways removed.• And Lockheed Martin now wants clearance to export the new F-22 stealth fighter.• Do you just want clothes for your birthday?• He was obsessed with her and wanted her desperately.• Wiggins wanted his charges to prepare for the world of work.• What we want is a car that's cheap and reliable.• Do you want milk in your coffee?• I want some coffee.• Was it affection that made him want to agree, or guilt?• Stacey wants to be a doctor.• You don't really want to be a hairdresser, do you?• But you might also want to be bumped.• What do you want to be when you grow up, Clare?• Does he want to commit his whole life to her happiness?• He looked so cautious it made me want to cry.• What do you want to do at the weekend?• I want to see life, to travel the world, and write about what I see.• I want to stay here, with him, for ever.• I never want to work in a factory, having seen the effect it had on my father.• She wants Tom to come to her party.• He wants you in his office right away.• "I want you, " she whispered, "I want you now."All I want is• He hung up so hard that he banged his fingers. All I want is a damned appointment, he told himself.• I've got too much spirit. All I want is a little cottage.• Who cares? All I want is the end product.• Can you cook and sew and wash clothes, Jimmy? All I want is to learn to ride.want doing• He looks after the house and garden and helps my wife with anything she wants doing.Who wants• Human beings are not rational agents. Who wants to be a millionaire?• Who wants to be an inconvenience? Who wants to be in the way?• Deborah's reactions to all of this were no different to anyone else's. Who wants to be an inconvenience?• That's probably the worst sin. Who wants to be involved with a boring organisation?• Nobody I know. Who wants to go there?• Of course not. Who wants to talk things over after being physically subdued and humiliated?want to do something• I didn't want to ask the others, because they were nothing to Mam.• He wants to believe it true.• If you change into a leotard and exercise, young children will want to copy you and participate.• You really want to get your brakes checked as soon as possible.• Adam wants to go see a movie.• She wants to go there and see the world as others see it.• Democrats want to look into the entirety of campaign finance law.• Yes, this is how I want to look.• Besides, I wanted to put you in the picture.• Then again, anyone can throw in high allusions, and Munnery doesn't abandon the conventions he wants to subvert.wantwant2 ●○○ noun 1 → for (the) want of something2 → for want of a better word/phrase etc3 → not for want of (doing) something4 → for want of anything better (to do)5 lack [countable, uncountable] formalNOT HAVE something that you need but do not have a disgraceful want of proper care6 no food/money etc [uncountable]POOR a situation in which you do not have enough food, money, clothes etc the chronic want and deprivation in the townships7 → be in want of somethingExamples from the Corpus
want• The expansion of the bus system satisfies a want in the community.• Yet it was hardly for want of trying.• People need to have freedom from want.• If taken without pay... the owners will be left in want and to suffer.Origin want1 (1100-1200) Old Norse vanta 