Phrase guide

want to

phrase · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Singapore: /ˈwʌn tu/
  • Singapore: [ˈwän˦ tu˨]

1

phrase

Meaning 1

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see want, to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

phrase

Meaning 2

About to; indicates imminent action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Malaysia, Singapore, Singlish

Examples

  • Want to rain already.
  • This poster like want to fall off already.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Semantic loan from Hokkien 欲 (beh) or 愛 /爱 (ài) and later Mandarin 要 (yào).