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
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
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 June 2025
None of the classrooms have doors, and some lack windows.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 5 June 2025
Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
In American literature, this is perhaps a relatively recent phenomenon too, one that could be attributed to a lack of global (and local) educational foundation.
—Aram Mrjoian
june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lack
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Nobody else can do what Isak does, but Newcastle lack serious backup at centre-forward.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 June 2025
None of the classrooms have doors, and some lack windows.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 5 June 2025
Noun
Brandon Bell/Getty Images What To Know A chronic lack of inventory, partially due to the fact that homebuilders in the U.S. significantly underbuilt in the years following the 2008 crash, contributed to bringing U.S. home prices through the roof in recent years.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
In American literature, this is perhaps a relatively recent phenomenon too, one that could be attributed to a lack of global (and local) educational foundation.
—Aram Mrjoian
june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lack
Cite this Entry
“Lack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lack. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share