are wanting

USAGE SUMMARY

'are wanting' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is needed or desired but not yet present. Example sentence: Everyone was having a great time, but drinks were wanting.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

People are wanting to be involved".

The New York Times

However, efforts to tackle underlying causes of vulnerability are wanting.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction

People are wanting modern to be more functional.

The New York Times

It's another demonstration that we are wanting to push on".

Independent

"Sometimes they are wanting to make a name for themselves.

The Guardian

"A lot of people are wanting me to help them.

The New York Times - Sports

"People are turning up, people are wanting to go in".

The Guardian

And now they are wanting to change the Constitution.

The Guardian

Producers today, she said are forced "to think what the financiers and distributors are wanting, not what ordinary people are wanting.

The Guardian - Film

"The competition is that much more intense and people are wanting more experiences and less stuff".

Independent

"A lot of people are wanting to see something done the old way," Jere said.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are wanting" to describe a current need or desire that is actively being felt or pursued. This emphasizes the ongoing nature of the need.

Common error

Avoid using "are wanting" when a simple "want" is more appropriate. "Are wanting" suggests a continuous or ongoing state of need, whereas "want" can express a general desire.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are wanting" functions as a verb phrase in the present continuous tense. It describes an ongoing state of desiring or needing something. Ludwig examples illustrate its use to indicate what people currently desire or lack.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

22%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are wanting" is a grammatically correct verb phrase in the present continuous tense, used to express a current state of needing or desiring something. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is perfectly valid and usable in the English language. The phrase is very commonly found in news and media sources, but also appears in wiki and scientific publications. While grammatically sound, it's important to consider if a simpler alternative like "want" or "need" might be more appropriate depending on the context. Using "are wanting" emphasizes the ongoing nature of the need or desire.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desire

Replaces the continuous "are wanting" with a simpler verb of desire, altering the tense and emphasis.

need

Replaces "are wanting" with a more concise verb indicating necessity, reducing the complexity of the phrase.

wish for

Substitutes "are wanting" with a phrasal verb indicating a wish or desire, changing the grammatical structure.

require

Substitutes "are wanting" with a verb indicating a need or requirement, simplifying the expression.

have a desire for

Replaces "are wanting" with a more explicit expression of desire, adding a noun and preposition.

be in need of

Substitutes "are wanting" with a more formal expression of need, adding a prepositional phrase.

be lacking

Substitutes "are wanting" with a more descriptive phrase indicating a deficiency, altering the sentence structure.

lack

Replaces "are wanting" with a verb indicating a deficiency or absence, changing the focus of the sentence.

crave

Replaces "are wanting" with a verb expressing a strong desire or longing, adding a sense of intensity.

yearn for

Substitutes "are wanting" with a phrasal verb expressing a deep longing, altering the tone and emphasis.

FAQs

How can I use "are wanting" in a sentence?

You can use "are wanting" to indicate a current state of needing or desiring something, as in "People "are wanting to be involved" in community projects" or "They "<a href="/s/are+wanting+countries+to+accept+economic+"contracts"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">are wanting countries to accept economic "contracts""".

What's the difference between "are wanting" and "want"?

"Are wanting" suggests a continuous or current need or desire. "Want" is a more general term. For example, "People want change" expresses a general desire, while "People "are wanting change"" implies an active, ongoing demand for it.

What can I say instead of "are wanting"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "desire", "require", "need", or "be lacking".

Is "are wanting" grammatically correct?

Yes, "are wanting" is grammatically correct and is used in modern English to express a present, ongoing state of needing or desiring something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.