Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

want

[wont, wawnt] / wɒnt, wɔnt /
NOUN
desire
Synonyms
STRONGEST
need wish
STRONG
appetite craving demand fancy hankering hunger longing necessity requirement thirst yearning yen
Antonyms
STRONG
dislike distaste hate hatred indifference
WEAK
abundance disinterest plenty
NOUN
lack, need
Synonyms
STRONG
absence dearth default defect deficiency destitution exigency famine impecuniousness impoverishment inadequacy indigence insufficiency meagerness neediness paucity pauperism penury poorness poverty privation scantiness scarcity shortage
WEAK
exiguousness skimpiness
Antonyms
STRONG
abundance adequacy advantage affluence enough excess perfection plenty satisfaction sufficiency wealth
WEAK
disinterest dislike hate
VERB
desire
Synonyms
STRONGEST
choose crave need prefer require wish
STRONG
ache aspire covet fancy hanker hunger long lust pine thirst yearn
WEAK
be greedy could do with desiderate feel a need have a passion for have a yen for have ambition have an urge for have eyes for incline toward itch for spoil for
Antonyms
STRONGEST
dislike hate have not want spurn
STRONG
despise
VERB
lack, need
Synonyms
STRONGEST
call for demand require
STRONG
miss starve
WEAK
be deficient be deprived of be found wanting be insufficient be poor be short of be without fall short in have need of stand in need of
Antonyms
WEAK
despise dislike hate have

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.

How easily accessible is the firm — would you want to visit a branch in person?

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

With mediators from Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan pushing for a U.S.-Iran meeting as soon as this week, experts say there is a path to a deal if both sides want to engage.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

“Because I want money,” one of them texted.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

I don’t want to be the one to draw the boundary — I need their permission to draw a boundary between us.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

I think it was in that moment that I realized that even though I’ve always been okay with being just Lexie, his friend, now I think I want to be Lexie, without the just.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Vocabulary lists containing want

"A Modest Proposal," Vocabulary from the satire

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 3

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Selection Vocabulary 2, Unit 2

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!