want

You would like to do something because you think it would make you happy.

• I want to sleep.
• She wanted to see the sea.
• Do you want to play outside?

How to use it: want to + verb (I want to learn French.)

Similar words: would like, wish

Common phrases: want to leave, want to learn, want to stay

You would like to have something because you think it would make you happy.

• I want some water.
• He wanted a bigger room.
• Do you want this sandwich?

How to use it: want + noun (She wants a new bike.)

Similar words: would like, desire

Common phrases: want a drink, want something, want more money

You would like another person to do something.

• I want you to stay.
• She wanted him to call her.
• Do they want us to bring food?

How to use it: want someone to + verb (I want you to listen.)

Similar words: would like

Common phrases: want someone to, want me to, want you to

You would like an event or situation to happen or be a certain way.

• I want the rain to stop.
• They wanted everything to be perfect.
• Do you want this to happen again?

How to use it: want something to + verb (We want the meeting to end soon.)

Similar words: would like, wish for

Common phrases: want something to, want it to, want everything to

Used to gently suggest that someone should do something.

• You might want to sit down.
• She said I might want to leave early.
• You may want to read the instructions first.

How to use it: might want to + verb (You might want to take an umbrella.); may want to + verb (You may want to check the address first.)

Common phrases: might want to, may want to, want to check

You feel a strong physical need to do something, even if you do not choose it.

• I want to sneeze.
• The strong smell made her want to be sick.
• I wanted to laugh, but I held it in.

How to use it: want to + verb (That smell makes me want to vomit.)

Similar words: feel like

Common phrases: want to vomit, want to sneeze, want to cry

Something a person would like to have, even if they do not need it.

• Food is a need; a television is a want.
• Her wants were simple: books and a quiet room.
• The survey asks about customers’ needs and wants.

Similar words: wish, desire

Common phrases: wants and needs, personal want, satisfy a want

A situation in which something necessary is missing or there is too little of it.

• The plants died for want of water.
• We cancelled the trip for want of money.
• The plan failed through want of proper care.

How to use it: for want of something (The project stopped for want of money.); in want of something (The village is in want of clean water.)

Similar words: lack, shortage, absence

Opposites: abundance

Common phrases: for want of, want of money, in want of, want of caution