verb

want

to desire, to wish for, to need

I want a new bike.

I want a new bike.

I want to go home.

I want to go home.

She wants you to help her.

She wants you to help her.

((sth.)) to desire (sth.) I want a new bike.

((to-inf)) to desire to do (sth.) I want to go home.

((sb.)) ((to-inf)) to desire (sb.) to do (sth.) She wants you to help her.

Synonyms: desire, wish, need; Antonyms: dislike, hate

From Old Norse 'vanta', meaning 'to lack'. The sense evolved from 'lacking something' to 'desiring something'.

Imagine a child pointing at a toy and saying, 'I want that!'. It's one of the first and most basic desires we express.

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