Definitions

lack

[lak] / læk /

NOUN

deficiency, need

Synonyms

STRONGEST

absence dearth inadequacy loss paucity poverty reduction scarcity shortage shortcoming shortfall

STRONG

abridgement curtailment decrease default defect deficit depletion deprivation destitution distress exigency exiguity inferiority insufficiency meagerness miss necessity privation retrenchment scantiness shortness shrinkage shrinking slightness stint want

WEAK

insufficience

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abundance affluence enough excess plenty success sufficiency

STRONG

addition advantage enlargement expansion increase perfection

WEAK

extra lot plethora profusion surplus

VERB

do not have

Synonyms

STRONGEST

need require want

STRONG

minus miss out

WEAK

be deficient in be short of be without have need of hurting for not got too little too late

Antonyms

STRONGEST

dislike have

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.

"The lack of supervision can put people's health at serious risk, and there may also be concerns about the quality or authenticity of the products on offer," she says.

From BBC

Tottenham battled really well in the first half and, although the game got away from them after the break, it wasn't through any lack of effort.

From BBC

Garden saw Fink—who was tapped as CEO about six years ago—as lacking leadership and industry experience, according to the people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many lacked thousands of workstations ahead of Newsom’s mandate, according to a recent report in the Sacramento Bee.

From Los Angeles Times

"Without doubt, there is a lack of cutting edge at Celtic," Stewart said.

From BBC

lack

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words