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.
See Examples For:
Mark Joseph Stern: There has been a lot of misunderstanding about exactly what the liberal justices did in B.P.J., and I want to clear that up.
From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2026
"After that, that's when the humiliation hit me - I really didn't want to be the person that this had happened to, I didn't want to be a victim of a fraud and a fraudster."
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
House Republican leaders want to pass the framework next week before lawmakers leave Washington for a long summer break, leaving only a narrow window to complete the package before November.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Most adults want guidance about brain health from their doctors, but these conversations are uncommon, the Alzheimer’s Association found.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
When she asks if I want to come, I usually say no.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
And if the companies have debt, he wants to make sure it is “backed by assets or steady cash flow.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
It is policing virtual romance, in part because it wants people to stop dating machines and start having babies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
But the litigation poses a major headache for David Ellison, who wants to wrap up the deal by September to avoid making higher payouts to Warner Bros.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
The truck ad wants you to believe the roar is real.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026
I know he wants us to like her, so bringing her up will make him feel better.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
When confronted by Helen, after she became suspicious, he admitted he was not a pilot, but said he had wanted to impress her.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
The New Zealand star beloved for his leading role in the “Jurassic Park” films said in an August 2025 interview with The Telegraph, published Wednesday, that he wanted to be remembered for his kindness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Facing his last weekly grilling from MPs in parliament, Starmer said he wanted to see the next leader of his centre-left Labour party succeed.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
“People wanted access to SpaceX and they couldn’t get it, and so they got similar exposure to other companies playing in the space,” Anderson said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
And their first rule was that they wanted quiet.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Reasons for the fake posts included wanting to give the appearance that a company was growing, and collecting resumes for later.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
Ashley is also campaigning for a change in the law, wanting to ensure councils follow consistent bullying procedures throughout the country.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
The check came, and I happily split it, wanting nothing further from him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
After seeing “Little Bear Ridge Road” on Broadway in the fall, I immediately requested a copy of the script, wanting to spend more time with the hauntingly unresolved characters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
He thought about the social worker wanting me to testify on the boy’s behalf.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
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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