What do you want?

phrase

A question you ask someone when you want to know what they desire or need.

What do you want for dinner tonight?

Often appears as...

what do you want for dinner?
what do you want for your birthday?

phrase

A statement used to express frustration or annoyance at someone's demands or behavior, often rhetorical.

What do you want now? I'm busy!

Visual representation of "what do you want?" - A statement used to express frustration or annoyance at someone's demands or behavior, often rhetorical.

Often appears as...

what do you want now?
what do you want from me?

Usage tips

Disapproving

phrase

A question asked to understand an individual's intentions or motives.

What do you want from this relationship?

Often appears as...

what do you want out of life?
what do you want from this?

phrase

A question you ask someone when you want to know what they desire or need.

What do you want for dinner tonight?

Often appears as...

what do you want for dinner?
what do you want for your birthday?

phrase

A statement used to express frustration or annoyance at someone's demands or behavior, often rhetorical.

What do you want now? I'm busy!

Often appears as...

what do you want now?
what do you want from me?

Usage tips

Disapproving

phrase

A question asked to understand an individual's intentions or motives.

What do you want from this relationship?

Often appears as...

what do you want out of life?
what do you want from this?

Definition 1 of 3

Visual representation of "what do you want?"

Pro Tip 1/3

Clarify Choices

Use it to ask for a specific choice between options you've given.

We have pizza or salad for dinner, what do you want?

Pro Tip 2/3

Genuine Inquiry

Ask with a neutral tone to show you are ready to listen.

You seem to have something on your mind. What do you want?

Pro Tip 3/3

Offer Help

Say it to offer assistance without being pushy.

I’m here to help. What do you want?

Pro Tip 1/3

Clarify Choices

Use it to ask for a specific choice between options you've given.

We have pizza or salad for dinner, what do you want?

Pro Tip 2/3

Genuine Inquiry

Ask with a neutral tone to show you are ready to listen.

You seem to have something on your mind. What do you want?

Pro Tip 3/3

Offer Help

Say it to offer assistance without being pushy.

I’m here to help. What do you want?

Pro Tip 1/3

Clarify Choices

Use it to ask for a specific choice between options you've given.

We have pizza or salad for dinner, what do you want?

Pro Tip 2/3

Genuine Inquiry

Ask with a neutral tone to show you are ready to listen.

You seem to have something on your mind. What do you want?

Pro Tip 3/3

Offer Help

Say it to offer assistance without being pushy.

I’m here to help. What do you want?

Visual representation of the word "What do you want?"

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