want for
To lack — not the same as wishing for.
Updated September 24, 2026
want for pronunciation
/WAWNT fer/
Meaning
Older English want meaning lack, still strong in Southern and Appalachian mouths. "Don't want for nothing" means you are not short on what you need. Flip it and "want for" means you are missing something. Church talk and Bible phrasing ("they shall not want") help keep the sense alive around the kitchen table.
How folks use it
- “That boy don't want for nothing — pantry's full and the bills are paid.”
- “We won't want for firewood if we cut that dead oak.”
Origin and etymology
Want has meant lack in English for centuries. "Want for" kept that sense in rural Southern and South Midland speech after many regions leaned on want only for desire. Related to older phrases like "in want of" and scripture lines about not wanting.
Frequently asked questions
Does want for mean you desire something?
No. Here it means lack. "Don't want for" means you already have enough.