lacked; lacking; lacks
1
: to be deficient or missing
time is lacking for a full explanation
2
: to be short or have need of something
he will not lack for advisers
The area does not lack for good restaurants.
: to stand in need of : suffer from the absence or deficiency of
lack the necessities of life
She lacked confidence.
1
: the fact or state of being wanting or deficient
a lack of evidence
2
: something that is lacking or is needed
Synonyms
Examples of lack in a Sentence
Verb
His book lacks any coherent structure.
They lack a good strategy for winning the election.
This painting lacks any artistic value.
She has never been accused of lacking confidence.
Many of these people lack the basic necessities of life.
Noun
The problem is a lack of money.
She has been suffering from a lack of sleep lately.
Her problem is lack of sleep.
Recent Examples on the Web
William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024
Advertisement Public showers are available for residents who lack indoor plumbing — $3 per visit, with the elderly welcome to bathe for free.
—Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Kishida, formerly Japan’s top diplomat, lacks Abe’s charismatic leadership style, Japanese media note.
—Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Those hospitals lack enough supplies like basic anesthesia, bed space and equipment.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
The outdoor areas lack shelter, food and sanitation, which has given way to an array of public health concerns for the most vulnerable.
—arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
That has resulted, the filing argues, in sentencing juries that are predominantly white and lack diversity both culturally and in life experiences.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
Both sounded kind of disturbing and lacked any soul or feeling.
—Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Conversely, a ruling that the antiabortion doctors in this case lack the legal standing to sue could forestall other challenges.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
Grace's story is just one example of the many hardships that election officials have to face due to situations such as staffing shortages and other problems that happened due to lack of funding.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
Attorney Michael Levine, a partner at Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain, P.A., said the lack of regulation and fewer eyes on construction sites can lead to an increase in fatal and harmful incidents.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
But after Israel’s bombardment forced them to flee south to the displacement shelter, his lack of mobility severely worsened, leaving him bedbound, according to Um Ihab.
—Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Follow Election 2024 Officials say there also is a lack of clarity about how quickly Israel may follow through on its promise, announced Thursday under pressure from the Biden administration, to open an Israeli port and an additional border crossing to northern Gaza so more aid can get in.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
What to Consider Although children are allowed and the multi-room suites are well suited for families, little ones may be bored by the lack of kid-centric amenities and programming.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
The lack of funding means UNICEF, the World Food Program and other agencies are facing a critical shortfall to help needy Haitians.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Despite voting for the bill, Sen. Reggie Thomas, D-Lexington, criticized the lack of transparency surrounding it.
—Rebecca Grapevine, The Courier-Journal, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
Jost also addressed how Trump suggested that Biden was on cocaine during his State of the Union address last month–the same speech where Biden’s performance was widely seen as refuting right-wing criticisms of the president as lacking stamina.
—William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024
Advertisement Public showers are available for residents who lack indoor plumbing — $3 per visit, with the elderly welcome to bathe for free.
—Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Kishida, formerly Japan’s top diplomat, lacks Abe’s charismatic leadership style, Japanese media note.
—Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Those hospitals lack enough supplies like basic anesthesia, bed space and equipment.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
The outdoor areas lack shelter, food and sanitation, which has given way to an array of public health concerns for the most vulnerable.
—arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
That has resulted, the filing argues, in sentencing juries that are predominantly white and lack diversity both culturally and in life experiences.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
Both sounded kind of disturbing and lacked any soul or feeling.
—Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Conversely, a ruling that the antiabortion doctors in this case lack the legal standing to sue could forestall other challenges.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Noun
Late clients, lack of hair integrity and unnecessary deposit fees are causing the Black hair community’s safe space to become an uncomfortable environment.
—Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
Grace's story is just one example of the many hardships that election officials have to face due to situations such as staffing shortages and other problems that happened due to lack of funding.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
Attorney Michael Levine, a partner at Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain, P.A., said the lack of regulation and fewer eyes on construction sites can lead to an increase in fatal and harmful incidents.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
But after Israel’s bombardment forced them to flee south to the displacement shelter, his lack of mobility severely worsened, leaving him bedbound, according to Um Ihab.
—Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Follow Election 2024 Officials say there also is a lack of clarity about how quickly Israel may follow through on its promise, announced Thursday under pressure from the Biden administration, to open an Israeli port and an additional border crossing to northern Gaza so more aid can get in.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
What to Consider Although children are allowed and the multi-room suites are well suited for families, little ones may be bored by the lack of kid-centric amenities and programming.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
The lack of funding means UNICEF, the World Food Program and other agencies are facing a critical shortfall to help needy Haitians.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Despite voting for the bill, Sen. Reggie Thomas, D-Lexington, criticized the lack of transparency surrounding it.
—Rebecca Grapevine, The Courier-Journal, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lack.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English lak; akin to Middle Dutch lak lack, Old Norse lakr defective
First Known Use
Verb
12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of lack was
in the 12th century
Phrases Containing lack
Articles Related to lack
Dictionary Entries Near lack
Cite this Entry
“Lack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lack. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
lack
1 of 2 verb1
: to be missing
2
: to need, want, or be short of
lacks money
lack
2 of 2 noun1
: the fact or state of being absent or in short supply
2
: something that is lacking or is needed
More from Merriam-Webster on lack
Nglish: Translation of lack for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lack for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lack
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