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lack

[lak] / læk /




Usage

What are other ways to say lack? The verb lack means to be without or to have less than a desirable quantity of something: to lack courage, sufficient money, enough members to make a quorum. Need often suggests urgency, stressing the necessity of supplying what is lacking: to need an operation, better food, a match to light the fire. Require, which expresses necessity as strongly as need, occurs most frequently in serious or formal contexts: Your presence at the hearing is required. Successful experimentation requires careful attention to detail.

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.

What’s really galling to Scots is the culprit’s lack of ambition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

MyTribe warned "surging" prices in the private sector and lack of NHS access was leaving patients "struggling to afford essential care".

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

The Mexican team’s lack of elite club experience, however, is obvious and could be a problem.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

In other words, retail investors lack the size and sophistication of institutional investors and are likely to trade more frequently, chasing the next big trends without paying close attention to valuations.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

The danger was not from lack of food or water.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell




Vocabulary lists containing lack


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