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
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Head coach Rachid Meziane felt the Sun lacked some of the intensity and connectedness that propelled its 83-78 win in the preseason opener against the Toronto Tempo.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Max Bultman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Few moments in history have so starkly exposed the vulnerabilities of the presidential line of succession—or the lack of clarity about how it is protected.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lack
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Verb
Burnard and O’Shaughnessy point out that, whereas Britain regularly sent nobles to govern the Caribbean colonies—and dukes and earls to Ireland—the men appointed to administer the thirteen colonies more often lacked titles and were paid less.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Head coach Rachid Meziane felt the Sun lacked some of the intensity and connectedness that propelled its 83-78 win in the preseason opener against the Toronto Tempo.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Noun
The only question is whether Detroit would consider going with three goaltenders next year to account for Cossa’s lack of NHL experience — and whether Talbot would sign up for that kind of a split.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Few moments in history have so starkly exposed the vulnerabilities of the presidential line of succession—or the lack of clarity about how it is protected.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lack
Cite this Entry
“Lack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lack. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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
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