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.
"I wish I had been seen and heard before my emergency became life-changing."
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026
“I want to thank Dan for leading the finance organization that will support Adobe’s next chapter of growth in the AI era, and wish him all the best,” he added.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
Cinderella-style villains aside, companies doing their diligence may reach out to people you wish they wouldn’t.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
But his wish list of non-woke repertory, which also included Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera, draws on an attachment that predates his entry into national politics: Broadway musicals.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
When I awaken some hours later and check the dogs and get ready for the run up the coast he comes out to wish me well.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
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