wants

USAGE SUMMARY

'wants' is a valid word in the English language.
It is a verb which means to desire, crave or wish for something. You can use it in any form of written English. Example sentence: She wants to go to college to pursue her education.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Music

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And I know she wants it because we've been together for 20 years".

The Guardian - Music

"And you know, she's got a voice that she wants to get out there".

The Guardian

In the cycling sense, "nervous" refers to a vicious spiral in which the entire peloton is aware that the safest place to be is in the front 20 or so – this is a basic racing principle taught at junior level – with the upshot that every team leader with a purpose wants to be in the first 20 riders with as many of their team-mates as can manage it.

The Guardian - Sport

Mendes, 34, is in no hurry to do another film and wants to direct a play at the Donmar first.

The Guardian - Film

Nine belong to a parliamentary association that wants the teaching of history in schools to give a better gloss to Japan's militarist era".

The New York Times

But in a negotiation where neither side can have what it really wants, and where the least bad solution is as good as it gets, worrying too much about fairness can be suicidal.

The Economist

No one wants to hear it.

The New York Times

Nobody wants to see that happen.

The New York Times

SPT has majority stakes in UK independent producers including Silver River, Gogglebox Entertainment and Victory Television and makes shows including Who Wants to be a Millionaire, the Beyoncé and Will Young specials for ITV and Breakaway for BBC2.

The Guardian

If Labour wants to reconnect, it must be the change it wants to see.

The Guardian - Opinion

When asked to respond to Simon Cowell's recent comment that Clarkson "started to fight against what made her successful … one minute she wants to make pop records, and then she doesn't," she laughs loudly again, but there's a distinct flash of anger as she says: "Everyone's aware that My Life Would Suck Without You and Already Gone were huge pop hits, right?

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing a strong desire, consider alternatives like "desires" or "craves" to add emphasis.

Common error

Ensure the verb "wants" agrees with the subject. Use "want" for plural subjects and "wants" for singular subjects in the third person singular (he, she, it).

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "wants" is to serve as a verb indicating a desire, wish, or need. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples showcasing its role in expressing what someone desires or intends to obtain.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Sport

15%

Music

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wants" is a verb commonly used to express a desire, wish, or need. Ludwig AI confirms its versatility across numerous contexts, particularly in News & Media, Sports, and Music. It maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for a wide range of communications. Common errors include incorrect subject-verb agreement, so ensure "wants" is paired with singular subjects in the third person (he, she, it). Alternatives such as "desires", "wishes for", and "is looking for" can add nuance depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desires

Indicates a strong feeling of wanting something; suggests a deeper level of longing than "wants".

craves

Emphasizes an intense and urgent desire, often for something essential or deeply yearned for.

wishes for

More formal and polite; often used to express a desire for something that might be difficult to obtain.

needs

Highlights the necessity or requirement for something, indicating it's not just desired but essential.

is looking for

Implies an active search for something; focuses on the effort to obtain something desired.

is eager to

Highlights enthusiasm and anticipation; suitable when someone is excited about doing something.

aspires to

Suggests a high goal or ambition; indicates a strong desire to achieve something significant.

is keen on

More informal and expresses enthusiasm or strong interest in something.

is aiming to

Focuses on the intention and plan to achieve something; highlights the goal-oriented aspect of wanting.

intends to

Focuses on the planned action or purpose, conveying a firm decision to do something.

FAQs

How do I use "wants" in a sentence?

"Wants" is used to express a desire or need. For example, "She "wants" to travel the world" or "He "wants" a new car".

What can I say instead of "wants"?

You can use alternatives like "desires", "wishes for", or "is looking for" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "she want" or "she wants"?

"She "wants"" is correct. In the third-person singular, the verb takes an "-s" ending.

What's the difference between "wants" and "needs"?

"Wants" expresses a desire, while "needs" expresses a necessity. You might want a new phone, but you need food and water.