Meaning of Want
In simple words: to desire or wish for something
Want in a sentence
- I want to eat pizza for dinner.
- Do you want to go to the movies tonight?
- She wants a new bike for her birthday.
- He wants to learn how to play the guitar.
- They want to travel to Europe next summer.
- I want to stay home and read a book.
How to use Want
Use 'want' in everyday conversations to express desires. It is appropriate in most contexts but may sound too direct in very formal situations. For example, saying 'I want a promotion' might be better expressed as 'I would like a promotion' in a job interview.
Grammar pattern
want + object
Memory hint
Think of 'want' as 'wand' — imagine waving a magic wand to get what you desire.
Related words
Collocations with Want
- badly
- desperately
- really
- all you want
- exactly what you want
- just what you want
Synonyms for Want
- be short of
Common mistakes with Want
- Using 'want' with gerunds incorrectly, e.g., 'I want going.' should be 'I want to go.'
- Confusing 'want' with 'need' — 'need' expresses necessity, while 'want' shows desire.
- Overusing 'want' in formal writing instead of more polite alternatives like 'would like' or 'desire.'
Want appears in
Want in other languages
- Arabicالعربية
يريد
أن ترغب أو تتمنى شيئًا
- Bengaliবাংলা
চাওয়া
কোনো কিছুর ইচ্ছা করা
- GermanDeutsch
Wollen
etwas begehren oder sich wünschen
- SpanishEspañol
Querer
desear o anhelar algo
- Persianفارسی
خواستن، میل داشتن
میل داشتن یا آرزو کردن چیزی
- FrenchFrançais
vouloir
désirer ou souhaiter quelque chose
- Hindiहिन्दी
चाहना
किसी चीज़ की इच्छा या चाहत रखना
- ItalianItaliano
Volere
desiderare o volere qualcosa
- PortuguesePortuguês
Querer
desejar algo
- RussianРусский
хотеть, желать
желать чего-то
- Urduاردو
چاہنا
کسی چیز کی خواہش کرنا
- Chinese中文
想要
渴望或希望得到某物
More words like Want
- AbandonB2
To leave someone or something and never return to them.
- AbilityA2
the fact that somebody/something is able to do something
- AbleA2
having the skill, intelligence, opportunity, etc. needed to do something
- AbroadA2
In or to a country that is not one's own.
- AbsoluteB2
total and complete
- AbsolutelyB1
used to emphasize that something is completely true
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Frequently asked questions about Want
What does Want mean?
to desire or wish for something
What is the definition of Want?
to have a desire or a wish for something/somebody
How do you use Want in a sentence?
I want to eat pizza for dinner.
Can you give another example of Want?
Do you want to go to the movies tonight?
What are synonyms for Want?
Common alternatives include be short of.
What is the opposite of Want?
Opposite meanings include dislike, refuse, reject.
What words go with Want?
It commonly pairs with badly, desperately, really, all you want, exactly what you want, just what you want.
What are common mistakes when using Want?
Using 'want' with gerunds incorrectly, e.g., 'I want going.' should be 'I want to go.' Confusing 'want' with 'need' — 'need' expresses necessity, while 'want' shows desire. Overusing 'want' in formal writing instead of more polite alternatives like 'would like' or 'desire.'
How do you pronounce Want?
US: /["/wɑːnt/","/wɑːnts/","/ˈwɑːntɪd/","/ˈwɑːntɪŋ/"]/, UK: /["/wɒnt/","/wɒnts/","/ˈwɒntɪd/","/ˈwɒntɪŋ/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.
When should I use Want?
Use 'want' in everyday conversations to express desires. It is appropriate in most contexts but may sound too direct in very formal situations. For example, saying 'I want a promotion' might be better expressed as 'I would like a promotion' in a job interview.
What CEFR level is Want?
"Want" is at A1 level on the CEFR scale.





























