1 [+ obj] : to desire or wish for (something)
▪ Do you want more coffee? ▪ He wants a bicycle for his birthday. ▪ I just wanted a chance to rest. ▪ She wanted more time to finish the test. ▪ Do you want anything from the store? ▪ What do you want for Christmas? ▪ You can choose whichever color you want. — often followed by to + verb ▪ She wants to go to college next year. ▪ I want to be alone. ▪ “How old are you?” “Well, if you really want to know, I'm 52.” ▪ I'm supposed to work late tonight, but I really don't want to (do it). ▪ You can do whatever you want to (do). ▪ You can say what you want (to say) about his personality, but there's no denying that he is efficient. ▪ I was so angry that I wanted to scream. [=that I felt like screaming] 2 [+ obj] a : to need (something)
▪ Our house wants painting. ▪ The motor wants a tune-up.
b [+ obj] : to be without (something needed) : lack
▪ Thousands of poor people still want food and shelter. ▪ He's not the most talented player, but he doesn't want self-confidence. [=he has a lot of self-confidence] 3 not used in progressive tenses [+ obj] a : to wish or demand to see or talk to (someone)
▪ Tell him that the teacher wants him. ▪ The police want him for questioning. ▪ You're wanted on the phone. [=someone wants to speak to you on the phone]
b : to desire (someone) to do something
▪ Your mother wants you to come home. ▪ I just want him to be honest with me. ▪ Do you want me to bring back your book? — sometimes + for in informal U.S. English ▪ I want for you to do this. = What I want is for you to do this.
c : to seek (someone) in order to make an arrest
▪ The police want him for murder. — usually used as (be) wanted ▪ The suspect was wanted for murder. ▪ one of the nation's most wanted criminals 4 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] informal : to desire to move or be in or out of a place
▪ (chiefly US) The cat wants in/out. [=the cat wants to go inside/outside] — usually used figuratively ▪ At first she wanted in on the deal [=she wanted to be included in the deal], but now she wants out of it. [=she does not want to be included] ▪ He desperately wanted (back) into the game. [=wanted to get (back) into the game] 5 not used in progressive tenses [+ obj] informal — used to give advice about what someone should do or be — followed by to + verb ▪ You want to be very careful [=you should be very careful] when you pull out of the parking lot. ▪ We might want to leave a little early. [=maybe we should leave a little early] 6 not used in progressive tenses [+ obj] : to feel sexual desire for (someone)
▪ You can tell that he wants her.
▪ Do you want more coffee? ▪ He wants a bicycle for his birthday. ▪ I just wanted a chance to rest. ▪ She wanted more time to finish the test. ▪ Do you want anything from the store? ▪ What do you want for Christmas? ▪ You can choose whichever color you want. — often followed by to + verb ▪ She wants to go to college next year. ▪ I want to be alone. ▪ “How old are you?” “Well, if you really want to know, I'm 52.” ▪ I'm supposed to work late tonight, but I really don't want to (do it). ▪ You can do whatever you want to (do). ▪ You can say what you want (to say) about his personality, but there's no denying that he is efficient. ▪ I was so angry that I wanted to scream. [=that I felt like screaming]
▪ Our house wants painting. ▪ The motor wants a tune-up.
b [+ obj] : to be without (something needed) : lack
▪ Thousands of poor people still want food and shelter. ▪ He's not the most talented player, but he doesn't want self-confidence. [=he has a lot of self-confidence]
▪ Tell him that the teacher wants him. ▪ The police want him for questioning. ▪ You're wanted on the phone. [=someone wants to speak to you on the phone]
b : to desire (someone) to do something
▪ Your mother wants you to come home. ▪ I just want him to be honest with me. ▪ Do you want me to bring back your book? — sometimes + for in informal U.S. English ▪ I want for you to do this. = What I want is for you to do this.
c : to seek (someone) in order to make an arrest
▪ The police want him for murder. — usually used as (be) wanted ▪ The suspect was wanted for murder. ▪ one of the nation's most wanted criminals
▪ (chiefly US) The cat wants in/out. [=the cat wants to go inside/outside] — usually used figuratively ▪ At first she wanted in on the deal [=she wanted to be included in the deal], but now she wants out of it. [=she does not want to be included] ▪ He desperately wanted (back) into the game. [=wanted to get (back) into the game]
▪ You can tell that he wants her.
want for [phrasal verb]
want for (something or someone) : to be without (someone or something) : to lack (someone or something)
▪ She certainly will never want for friends. [=she will always have friends] — see also 1want 3b (above)
▪ She certainly will never want for friends. [=she will always have friends] — see also 1want 3b (above)
want no part of/in — see 1part
want nothing to do with — see 1do
want rid of — see rid





