want

Universal Words verb, noun verb (not usually used in the progressive tenses) wish 1 to have a desire or a wish for sth: [VN] Do you want some more tea? * She's always wanted a large family. * All I want is the truth. * Thanks for the present-it's just what I wanted. * (informal) I can do whatever I want. * The last thing I wanted was to upset you. * The party wants her as leader. * [Vtoinf] What do you want to do tomorrow? * 'It's time you did your homework.' 'I don't want to!' * There are two points which I wanted to make. * [VNtoinf] Do you want me to help? * We didn't want this to happen. * I want it (to be) done as quickly as possible. HELPNOTE Notice that you cannot say 'want that...': _I_ _w_a_n_t_ _t_h_a_t_ _y_o_u_ _d_o_ _i_t_ _q_u_i_c_k_l_y_._ _W_h_e_n_ _t_h_e_ _i_n_f_i_n_i_t_i_v_e_ _i_s_ _u_s_e_d_ _a_f_t_e_r_ want, it must have to: _I_ _w_a_n_t_ _s_t_u_d_y_ _i_n_ _A_m_e_r_i_c_a_._ [VN-ing] I don't want you coming home so late. * [VN-ADJ] Do you want your coffee black or white? * [V] (spoken, informal) You can come too, if you want. need 2 (informal) to need sth: [VN] We'll want more furniture for the new office. * What this house wants is a good clean. * It wants a special sort of person for that job. * [V-ing, Vtoinf] The plants want watering daily. * The plants want to be watered daily. 3 [VN] [usuallypassive] to need sb to be present in the place or for the purpose mentioned: She's wanted immediately in the director's office. * Excuse me, you're wanted on the phone. seealsoWANTED should / ought to 4 [Vtoinf] (informal) used to give advice to sb, meaning 'should' or 'ought to': If possible, you want to avoid alcohol. * He wants to be more careful. feel sexual desire 5 [VN] to feel sexual desire for sb lack 6 [VN] (formal) to lack sth: He doesn't want courage. IDIOMS not want to know (about sth) (informal) to take no interest in sth because you do not care about it or it is too much trouble: I've tried to ask her advice, but she doesn't want to know (= about my problems). want rid of sb/sth (BrE, spoken, informal) to want to be free of sb/sth that has been annoying you or that you do not want: Are you trying to say you want rid of me? what do you want? used to ask sb in a rude or angry way why they are there or what they want you to do moreatNONEpron., PARTn., TRUCKn., WASTEv., WAYn. PHRASALVERBS want for sth (especially in negative sentences) (formal) to lack sth that you really need: He's ensured that his children will want for nothing (= will have everything they need). want sth from / out of sth/sb to hope to get sth from a particular experience or person: I had to discover what I really wanted out of life. * What do you want from me? want in / out (informal, especially AmE) to want to come in or out of a place: The dog wants in. want in