to want

Examples

• All

• LaVerne and her mother stood at the door; they wanted to hold me for the police.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Kelly was told the Justice Department wanted to step into the case on behalf of OR.

  Academic text (1991)

• The United States has sometimes stayed where it was not wanted, but not for long.

  Academic text (1991)

• Andrew knew the man was in a corner; the crowd outside wanted blood for blood.

  Fiction book (1990)

• They want him for murder.

  The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)

• The developers of the new test want parents to have access to thermometers.

  Academic text (1992)

• "Murphy's the man they want to see," shouted the man in the pin-striped suit.

  Fiction book (1991)

• That's what they want.

  Straw Dogs (1971)

• The police are searching for a man who is wanted in connection with several thefts.

• Authorities have announced that the fugitive is wanted for questioning in a major fraud case.

Synonyms

S

to seek

vsto want

∞ 1.0

Try to find or get something you want

is looked for by others, especially by authorities for suspected wrongdoing

H

to hunt

vsto want

190 1.2

To look carefully for something or someone

is looked for by others, often by authorities as suspected offenders

S

to seek out

vsto want

122 3.0

Look for and find a person or thing, often with effort

is looked for by others, often by authorities for suspected wrongdoing

Antonyms

I

innocent

∞ 2.2

Not guilty of a crime or wrongdoing

L

law-abiding

63 3.4

Following the law and not breaking rules

Idioms

W

to want for nothing

5 4.2

To have everything you need and wish for

W

waste not, want not

1 6.5

Use things carefully so you do not run out later

Phrasal Verbs

W

to want to puke

• Informal

9 8.4

To feel like you are going to throw up

Compounds

W

want ad

• US

9 2.9

An ad in a newspaper asking for things like jobs or items

How Sought

to want

∞ 7.7

to search

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology