WANT

Meaning

To wish for or desire (something); to feel a need or desire for; to crave, hanker, or demand.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *wanatōną Old Norse vantabor. Middle English wanten English want From Middle English wanten (“to lack, to need”), from Old Norse vanta (“to lack”), from Proto-Germanic *wanatōną (“to be wanting, lack”), from *wanô (“lack, deficiency”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (“empty”). Cognate with Middle High German wan (“not full, empty”), Middle Dutch wan (“empty, poor”), Old English wana (“want, lack, absence, deficiency”), Latin vanus (“empty”). See wan, wan-.

Synonyms & Antonyms

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 4 recorded puzzles:

• 2026-09-01ADILNTW
• 2025-12-16TWARNHO
• 2024-08-29WARNHOT
• 2024-01-29TANIDLW