lack

1 of 2

verb

ˈlak

lacked; lacking; lacks

intransitive verb

: to be deficient or missing

time is lacking for a full explanation

: to be short or have need of something

he will not lack for advisers

The area does not lack for good restaurants.

transitive verb

: to stand in need of : suffer from the absence or deficiency of

lack the necessities of life

She lacked confidence.

lack

2 of 2

noun

: the fact or state of being wanting or deficient

a lack of evidence

: something that is lacking or is needed

Example Sentences

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The new policies also lack measures to boost demand, said Zhaopeng Xing, senior China strategist at ANZ.

Rebecca Feng, WSJ, 14 Nov. 2022 Carlson said students in its programs often lack consistent access to a car and need to be able to study anytime, like after kids are in bed.

Dee-ann Durbin And Anne Dinnocenzio, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2022 Carlson said students in its programs often lack consistent access to a car and need to be able to study anytime, like after kids are in bed.

Dee-ann Durbin And Anne Dinnocenzio, Anchorage Daily News, 23 Oct. 2022 Carlson said students in its programs often lack consistent access to a car and need to be able to study anytime, like after kids are in bed.

Dee-ann Durbin, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2022 Perry said many households still lack running water or operational sewage lines, and cell service in Fort Myers remains spotty.

Aria Bendix, NBC News, 7 Oct. 2022 Forty Denver public schools still lack AC, down from 55 in 2019, Marsal said.

Christina Zdanowicz, CNN, 18 Sep. 2022 Ukraine’s conventional forces lack the weapons and ammunition needed to launch a full-scale ground offensive to retake territory from the Russians, Oleksii Reznikov said in an interview.

David L. Stern, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2022 Ukraine's conventional forces lack the weapons and ammunition needed to launch a full-scale ground offensive to retake territory from the Russians, Oleksii Reznikov said in an interview.

John Hudson, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022

Noun

There’s plenty of leg and foot room, thanks in part to the lack of a center tunnel — a common feature in EVs, most of which locate their batteries under the passenger compartment floor in what’s generally called a skateboard layout.

Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 1 Dec. 2022 The nine plaintiffs in the Tokyo trial — originally four couples and a man who lost his partner since filing the lawsuit — demanded 1 million yen ($7,215) in compensation for their suffering due to the lack of legal protection.

Mari Yamaguchi, ajc, 30 Nov. 2022 While part of the tightness is due to a lack of local refining capacity, much is global in nature.

Jinjoo Lee, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2022 Kardashian has been legally single since March, but the proceedings moved forward in fits and starts in large part due to West's lack of cooperation.

Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2022 This misidentification, the authors argue, has led to a lack of research into treatments and a general pessimism that habitual liars are capable of change.

Ellen Barry Dave Sanders, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2022 After an 11-6 campaign and a playoff berth last year, the Cardinals' season has been a disappointment thanks to a lack of execution, miscommunication and untimely turnovers.

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2022 Although local media outlets were not mentioned, shrinking newsrooms may contribute to a lack of awareness about projects.

Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2022 Some chalk it up to a lack of newness and intrigue around Michele’s designs, and others to the lingering effects of the pandemic dampening Asia market spends.

Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 24 Nov. 2022 See More

These 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.