WANT

verb [T ] A1 • synonyms: desire, wish for, would like • want something; want to do something; want someone to do something • really/desperately/badly want; want more/less • freq in AmE: 10/10

(DESIRE) to have a desire or wish for something, or to feel that you would like to have, do, or get something

collocation with want verb [T ] A1 • synonyms: wish to do, would like to do, want doing something (more common in UK) • want to go/do/be/have/get/see • really/desperately want to do; don't want to do; want to do something badly • freq in AmE: 10/10

to have a desire or wish to perform a particular action or activity

collocation with want verb [T ] A2 • synonyms: need someone to do, want someone/something doing something (more common in UK) • want someone to help/come/go/stay/do • want me/you/him/her/them to do something; really want someone to do • freq in AmE: 9/10

to have a desire or wish for another person to perform a particular action

collocation with want verb [T ] A1 • synonyms: would like, desire • want coffee/help/more/some/a • want something badly; really want something; want something for yourself • freq in AmE: 10/10

to have a desire or wish to have, get, or possess a particular thing

collocation with want verb [T ] A2 • synonyms: need from, expect from, desire from • want something from someone; want an answer/explanation/apology from • what do you want from me/him/them; want more/less from • freq in AmE: 8/10

to desire to receive or obtain a particular thing from a specific person, place, or source

collocation with want verb [T ] B1 • synonyms: need something done, would like something done • want something finished/completed/done/fixed/cleaned • want it done by/before; want something done properly/quickly/perfectly • freq in AmE: 8/10

to desire or expect something to be completed or finished, often by someone else

expression B2 informal • synonyms: want no involvement with, want to avoid • want nothing to do with someone/something; make it clear you want nothing to do with • want absolutely nothing to do with; anymore want nothing to do with • freq in AmE: 7/10

to desire to avoid or have no involvement or association with a person, thing, or situation

want verb [T ] B1 (almost always used in passive) • synonyms: be sought by police, be searched for • be wanted by police/authorities; be wanted for (crime / questioning) • freq in AmE (this meaning): 7/10

(SOUGHT BY AUTHORITIES) to be sought by police or authorities (usually in passive voice: be wanted) 💡 Almost always used in passive: "be wanted" (by police/authorities). Active use is rare.

collocation with want verb [T ] A2 • synonyms: really want, desperately want, desire greatly • want something/to do something badly • I want this badly; she wants to win badly; they wanted... badly • freq in AmE: 9/10

to desire something very much; to have a strong, intense desire for something

collocation with want verb [T ] A1 • synonyms: wish to know, desire to know, need to know • want to know (something/why/what/how) • I want to know; do you want to know?; she wants to know why; people want to know • freq in AmE: 10/10

to desire information or an explanation about something

collocation with want verb [T ] A1 • synonyms: wish to see, desire to see • want to see someone/something; want to see what/how • I want to see you; do you want to see...?; she wants to see...; they want to see what... • freq in AmE: 10/10

to desire to view, witness, or meet someone or something

collocation with want verb [I ] A1 • synonyms: wish to go, desire to go • want to go (somewhere); want to go home/to college/to a party • I want to go; do you want to go?; she wants to go; where do you want to go? • freq in AmE: 10/10

to desire to leave, travel to, or attend somewhere

collocation with want verb [T ] A2 • synonyms: wish to try, want to attempt • want to try something; want to try doing something • I want to try...; do you want to try?; she wants to try...; I want to try something different • freq in AmE: 10/10

to desire to attempt or experience something

collocation with want verb [T ] A1 • don't want anything; do you want anything?; if you want anything • freq in AmE: 10/10

to desire something (used mainly in questions and negative statements)💡This collocation appears constantly in: offering help, questions about needs, declining offers, and conditional offers.

collocation with want verb [T ] A2 • synonyms: want returned, desire to have again • do you want... back? • freq in AmE: 9/10

to desire the return of someone or something; to wish to have again what was lost or taken

collocation with want verb [I ] B1 • synonyms: want to leave, want to escape, want to quit • freq in AmE: 8/10💡"Want out" is informal but very common. More formal: "want to get out (of)" or "want to leave."

to desire to leave or escape from a situation, relationship, or commitment

collocation with want verb [I ] B1 • synonyms: want to join, want to participate, want to be included • freq in AmE: 7/10💡"Want in" is informal. More formal: "want to be included" or "want to participate."

to desire to join, participate in, or be included in something

collocation with want verb [T ] A2 • synonyms: desire the best, want the highest quality • want the best for someone/of something • freq in AmE: 9/10

to desire the highest quality or most excellent option; to have high standards

collocation with want verb [T ] B1 • synonyms: want everything, desire complete success • freq in AmE: 9/10💡Often used to discuss work-life balance or unrealistic expectations. "Have it all" is more common than "want it all."

to desire to have everything; to want complete success, happiness, or all available options without compromise

collocation with want verb [T ] A1 • synonyms: desire more, want additional • want more (of something); want more information/money/time • freq in AmE: 10/10

to desire additional quantity, quality, or experience; to be unsatisfied with current amount

collocation with want verb [T ] A2 • synonyms: want to verify, want to confirm, want to ensure • want to make sure (that...) • freq in AmE: 10/10

to desire to verify or confirm that something is certain or correct

collocation with want verb [I ] A2 • synonyms: want to speak, want to discuss • want to talk (to someone/about something) • freq in AmE: 10/10💡"I want to talk" or "We need to talk" often signals a serious conversation is coming.

to desire to have a conversation or discussion with someone

collocation with want verb [T ] A2 • synonyms: want to assist, desire to help, wish to support • want to help someone/with something • freq in AmE: 10/10

to desire to assist or support someone; to wish to be of service

collocation with want verb [I ] A1 • synonyms: want to become, aspire to be, desire to be • want to be (something/someone) • what do you want to be? • freq in AmE: 10/10

to desire to become or exist as something; to aspire to a role or identity

collocation with want verb [T ] B1 • synonyms: seek attention, desire notice, crave attention • freq in AmE: 9/10💡Can be neutral (normal need) or negative (attention-seeking behavior), depending on context.

to desire to be noticed, acknowledged, or given focus by others

fixed expression A1 • synonyms: What do you want to do when you grow up? • What do you want to be?; What do you want to be when you grow up? • freq in AmE: 10/10

a common question asking about someone's career or life aspirations, especially asked to children💡This is THE classic question asked to children about future careers. Almost every child in America has been asked this question.

collocation with want verb [T ] B1 • synonyms: want to speak privately, need to talk • can I have a word? • freq in AmE: 8/10💡"Want a word" often implies a serious or private conversation. UK: "have a word"; US: both "want" and "have" are used.

to desire to speak briefly with someone, often about something important or serious

collocation with want verb [T ] B2 • want no part of something; want no part in something • freq in AmE: 7/10💡Similar to "want nothing to do with" but emphasizes refusing participation or involvement.

to desire to have no involvement or association with something; to completely reject participation

collocation with want verb [T ] B1 • synonyms: want honest information, seek the truth, desire facts • freq in AmE: 9/10💡The phrase "You can't handle the truth!" from the movie "A Few Good Men" is iconic in American culture.

to desire honest, accurate information or facts about something

collocation with want verb [T ] B1 • synonyms: wish to believe, desire to have faith, hope to trust • want to believe (something/someone); want to believe in something • freq in AmE: 8/10

to desire to accept something as true, often despite doubts or lack of evidence💡it became famous from the TV show "The X-Files" - iconic poster in Mulder's office

collocation with want verb [T ] B1 • synonyms: want the best outcome, desire what's optimal • freq in AmE: 8/10💡Often used to explain difficult decisions made out of care or concern for others.

to desire the optimal outcome or choice for someone or a situation