Want work, we hear (4)
I believe the answer is:
need
'want' is the definition.
(I know that want can be written as need)
'work we hear' is the wordplay.
'work' becomes 'knead' (synonyms).
'we hear' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'knead' sounds like 'NEED'.
(Other definitions for need that I've seen before include "Lack - demand" , "What's lacking" , "Desideratum" , "Shortage" , "Penury" .)