lack
verb
\ ˈlak
\
\
lacked;
lacking;
lacks
Definition of lack
(Entry 1 of 2)
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.
lack
nounDefinition of lack (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: the fact or state of being wanting or deficient
a lack of evidence
2
: something that is lacking or is needed
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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: Verb
People with dissociative psychiatric conditions such as derealization or depersonalization syndrome report that their perceptual worlds, even their own selves, lack a sense of reality. — Anil K. Seth, Scientific American, "The Neuroscience of Reality," 27 Aug. 2019 While the planet’s star, HR 5183, had been studied since the '90s, HR 5183 b’s epic journey meant that experts lacked full orbit information. — Fox News, "Strange giant planet 'unlike any other' discovered," 27 Aug. 2019 Brown will have to prove that Wascher lacked the capacity, as a result of mental disease or defect, to either appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to control his conduct within the requirements of the law. — David Owens, courant.com, "University of Hartford student accused of stabbing two fellow students will pursue insanity defense," 27 Aug. 2019 Don’t tell Eric March that Germans lack a sense of humor. — Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, "If this isn’t hop country, why is San Diego harvesting a bumper crop?," 19 Aug. 2019 Not that Castiglioni’s Marni ever really lacked for the latter. — Vogue, "The Women Designers Who Changed The Way We Dress," 14 Aug. 2019 After the show aired in June, some viewers argued that this season lacks the same magic as the show’s original episodes. — Laura Hanrahan, Woman's Day, "When Will ‘Dance Moms’ Season 9 Air? Here's Everything We Know So Far," 10 Aug. 2019 Anyone who knows me is sick of hearing me complain that New York cafes usually lack all of the above, especially on the baking front. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appétit, "Rockaway Beach Bakery Is the Real Reason I Go to the Beach," 9 Aug. 2019 Their new home was formerly two separate apartments that been combined in such a way that the layout lacked a logical flow. — Samantha Swenson, ELLE Decor, "Inside a Knockout New York City Apartment By Interior Designer Michelle Gerson," 2 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Whoopi Goldberg decried the lack of effectiveness of the measures in place. — Bill Goodykoontz, azcentral, "Did Meghan McCain's personality seem different on 'The View' on Tuesday? Maybe," 4 Sep. 2019 Moved to Idaho in 1937 due to the dust bowl and lack of work. — courant.com, "Hugo Herman John," 4 Sep. 2019 The lack of affordable housing is widely seen as one of the three main challenges holding back the region’s economy. — Robert Mccartney, Washington Post, "D.C. region’s leaders face big challenges as they tackle affordable-housing shortage," 4 Sep. 2019 The lack of attention this cycle, however, doesn’t mean the idea has gone away. — Mark K. Matthews, Scientific American, "Five Things to Watch During CNN’s Climate Forum," 4 Sep. 2019 Instead their shape, use of materials, and size (or lack thereof) speaks more to what women prioritize and what fashion rules no longer apply. — Glamour, "5 Bag Trends Will Be Everywhere This Fall 2019," 4 Sep. 2019 However, the unstoppable force of the Brazilian's desire to leave failed to shift the immovable forces of Paris Saint-Germain's reluctance to sell and Barcelona's embarrassing lack of funds. — SI.com, "Neymar: What Now for Barcelona & Paris Saint-Germain?," 4 Sep. 2019 The first citizen committee disbanded over internal conflicts and lack of feedback from former police chiefs and the past mayor. — oregonlive, "Supporters urge Portland police chief, mayor to send condolences to relatives of people killed by police," 3 Sep. 2019 But there was news this week around the other terrible receiver picks in that draft, the remnants of a rash of bad decisions at the position arising from the lack of a consensus top pass catcher three years ago. — Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Browns’ receiver misery from 2016 NFL Draft has company," 3 Sep. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lack.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for lack
lack
verb
English Language Learners Definition of lack
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to not have (something) : to not have enough of (something)
lack
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of lack (Entry 2 of 2)
: the state or condition of not having any or enough of something : the state or condition of lacking something
See the full definition for lack in the English Language Learners Dictionary
lack
verb
\ ˈlak
\
\
lacked;
lacking
Kids Definition of lack
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: to be missing
Something is lacking in the soup.
2
: to need or be without something
I lack the necessary money.
lack
nounKids Definition of lack (Entry 2 of 2)
: the fact or state of not having any or enough of something
a lack of time