How would you define the words NEED and WANT? A NEED is something necessary to live and function. A WANT is something that can improve your quality of life. Using these criteria, a NEED includes food, clothing, shelter, and medical care, while WANT includes everything else. Is this the TRUTH about these two words? How do they relate to one another? However, as you’ll find, these terms are more fluid than they appear to be at first glance. While working through your lists, you may find that some items can fit into both categories, making the process confusing. Should they do that?