wish
Usage
What are other ways to say wish?
To wish is to feel an impulse toward attainment or possession of something; the strength of the feeling may be of greater or lesser intensity: I wish I could go home. Desire, a more formal verb, suggests a strong wish: They desire liberation. Want, usually colloquial in use, suggests a feeling of lack or need that imperatively demands fulfillment: People all over the world want peace.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It would be folly to assume your 10%-15% annual return will continue indefinitely; assume a more conservative return of 5%-7% a year, especially if you wish to stress test your finances.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026
Inde Navarrette has earned particular plaudits for her leading role as a young woman who becomes hauntingly infatuated with a man, played by Michael Johnston, after he makes a magical wish for her affection.
From Barron's • Jun. 14, 2026
"I don't wish for any other family to ever have to go through anything like this. It's just been horrendous," she said.
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026
As Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office tried to dispel misinformation about California’s ballot tabulation process, the statement also said, “For the record: we wish the votes were counted faster, too.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2026
I wish I could say I don’t know that, but I do.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Vocabulary lists containing wish
