gerund
The desire to have something or to do something.
People often say that wanting more time is reasonable.
For him, wanting a quiet room was important.
American English
How to pronounce wanting
noun · verb · adjectiveA1Very common word
WUHNtihng
/ˈwən.tɪŋ/
2 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Form of want
For a current desire, standard American English usually uses “want” rather than “am/is/are wanting.” The adjective “wanting” is a separate, formal use meaning “deficient.”
The desire to have something or to do something.
What to listen for
“Wanting” is usually /ˈwɑn.tɪŋ/. In natural connected speech, the /t/ in the middle may be hard to hear, so it can sound like “wan-ning.”
Meanings & examples
present participle
Desiring something or desiring to do something, usually while another action happens.
She stayed home, wanting to save money.
The guests moved upstairs, wanting a quieter room.
adjective
Lacking something necessary or not good enough in quality.
The report was found wanting in detail.
The proposal was wanting in several important areas.
Good to know
This adjective is formal and often appears in “found wanting,” meaning judged deficient.
Useful expressions
to refuse to be involved with someone or something
I want nothing to do with that dishonest deal.
because something needed is missing
The match was canceled for want of a referee.
to want to leave a situation
After one week, she wanted out of the project.