wanting
Americanadjective
-
lacking or absent.
a motor with some of the parts wanting.
-
deficient in some part, thing, or respect.
to be wanting in courtesy.
preposition
-
lacking; without.
a box wanting a lid.
-
less; minus.
a century wanting three years.
adjective
-
lacking or absent; missing
-
not meeting requirements or expectations
you have been found wanting
preposition
-
without
-
archaic minus
Etymology
Origin of wanting
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (adjective); want + -ing 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Anastasia said she had "financial" reasons for not wanting a child.
From Barron's
“Apparently league sources are continuing to put out false and misleading information instead of wanting to meet at the negotiating table,” Green said.
From Los Angeles Times
“It was in some areas, but the goodness did not balance the bad. So it’s like, not wanting to be reminded.”
From Salon
For the CPL, it hopes that it can be the 2026 World Cup's legacy, with fans wanting to remain invested in the game, and the new offside rule might play a part in that.
From BBC
But Walsh doesn’t see it as a widespread issue and calls the exodus more a sign of some investors wanting liquidity.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
