- want
- [[t]wɒ̱nt[/t]]
♦wants, wanting, wanted
[V n] I want a drink...
[V n] Ian knows exactly what he wants in life and is determined to get it...
[V to-inf] People wanted to know who this talented designer was...
[V n to-inf] They began to want their father to be the same as other daddies...
[V n -ing] They didn't want people staring at them as they sat on the lawn, so they put up high walls...
[V n -ed] He wanted his power recognised...
[V n n] I want my car this colour...
[V n adj/prep] I want my boy alive. I don't want him to be just a painful memory.
2) VERB: no cont, no passive You can say that you want to say something to indicate that you are about to say it.[V to-inf] I want to say how really delighted I am that you're having a baby...
[V to-inf] Look, I wanted to apologize for today. I think I was a little hard on you.
3) VERB: no cont, no passive You use want in questions as a way of making an offer or inviting someone to do something.[V n] Do you want another cup of coffee?...
[V to-inf] Do you want to leave your bike here?
4) VERB: no cont, no passive If you say to someone that you want something, or ask them if they want to do it, you are firmly telling them what you want or what you want them to do.[V n] I want an explanation from you, Jeremy...
[V n to-inf] If you have a problem with that, I want you to tell me right now...
[V to-inf] Do you want to tell me what all this is about?...
[V n adv/prep] I want my money back!
5) VERB: no cont, no passive If you say that something wants doing, you think that it needs to be done. [mainly BRIT, INFORMAL][V -ing] The windows wanted cleaning...
[V -ing] Her hair wants cutting.
Syn:6) VERB: no cont, no passive If you tell someone that they want to do a particular thing, you are advising them to do it. [INFORMAL][V to-inf] You want to be very careful not to have a man like Crevecoeur for an enemy...
[V to-inf] You want to look where you're going, mate.
Syn:7) VERB: usu passive If someone is wanted by the police, the police are searching for them because they are thought to have committed a crime.[be V-ed] They were wanted by the police...
[be V-ed] He has killed many in his time, and is wanted in at least three countries...
[be V-ed for n] He was wanted for the murder of a magistrate.
Derived words:8) VERB If you want someone, you have a great desire to have sex with them.[V n] Come on, darling. I want you.
9) VERB If a child is wanted, its mother or another person loves it and is willing to look after it.[be V-ed] Children should be wanted and planned...
[V n] I want this baby very much, because it certainly will be the last.
10) VERB: no cont If someone wants you in a particular place or role, they desire you to be in that place or role.[V n prep/adv] Albie wants you in his office...
[V n prep/adv] They didn't want her as attorney general...
[V n prep/adv] This is my territory. I want you out of here.
11) N-SING: also no det, N of n A want of something is a lack of it. [FORMAL]...a want of manners and charm...
The men were daily becoming weaker from want of rest.
Syn:12) N-UNCOUNT Want is the state of being extremely poor. [FORMAL]He said they were fighting for freedom of speech, freedom of worship, and freedom from want.
13) N-PLURAL: usu with poss Your wants are the things that you want.She couldn't lift a spoon without a servant anticipating her wants and getting it for her...
Supermarkets often claim that they are responding to the wants of consumers by providing packaged foods.
14) PHRASE: PHR n, PHR with v If you do something for want of something else, you do it because the other thing is not available or not possible.Many of them had gone into teaching for want of anything better to do...
There was another emotion, and for want of a better word he called it grief.
15) PHRASE: PHR with cl You say if you want when you are making or agreeing to an offer or suggestion in a casual way.Mary says you're welcome to stay the night if you want...
`Do you want to go through it all?' - `Yeah, if you want.'
16) PHRASE: PHR inf (politeness) People sometimes say `I don't want to be rude', for example, or `without wanting to be rude' as a way of apologizing or warning you when they are going to say something which might upset, annoy, or worry you.`I don't want to appear big-headed,' explains Loubet, `but I would say there is a 95% chance of success.'...
Without wanting to sound mean about it, these things all have to come from a budget.
17) PHRASE If you say to someone `what do you want?', you are asking them in a rather rude or angry way why they have come to the place where you are or why they want to speak to you.`What do you want!' she whispered savagely. `Get out.'...
`Bernie's been on the `phone.' - `What does he want?'
Phrasal Verbs:- want out
English dictionary. 2008.
