lack

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /lak/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /læk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular lack

Plural lacks

1. (countable & uncountable) (usually singular) If there is a lack of something, there is not enough of it or it doesn't exist at all.
   • Synonym: need

   He was frustrated by the lack of progress.

   There is a lack of clarity about where the money is to come from.

   He was happy with his life, despite his lack of family.

   Many parents try to compensate for their lack of time with children by spending money on them.

   They cite the lack of seat belts for the injuries.

   There's no lack of beaches in Hawai'i.

   Her teachers complained about her lack of attention.

   Food or the lack thereof could be easily used as a weapon.

   South African art museums are suffering from a lack of official funding.

   His head ached, mostly due to a lack of food and sleep.

   Lack of coordination made the 23 separate anti-gang programs ineffective.

   The purpose of this study is to address the relative lack of empirical research on adults.

Verb

Plain form lack

Third-person singular lacks

Past tense lacked

Past participle lacked

Present participle lacking

1. (transitive) If you lack something, you don't have it, or you don't have enough of it.

   He lacked the time and expertise to get the job done.

   Young people lack the necessary knowledge to make good business decisions.

   These materials lack sufficient strength to be used in building.

   Some adults lack the basic skills necessary to earn a living.

2. (formal) (intransitive) If you lack for something, you don't have it, or you don't have enough of it.

   She had never lacked for anything in her life.

Synonyms

• need
• require