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.
Inde Navarrette has earned particular plaudits for her role as a young woman who becomes dangerously infatuated with a man, played by Michael Johnston, after he makes a magical wish for her affection.
From Barron's • May 31, 2026
"There were some big highs and some tough ones as well. That's when you wish you were with someone else, at least to talk to."
From BBC • May 28, 2026
“We encourage all organizations that wish to solicit charitable donations within the City of Los Angeles to complete an info card and seek compliance.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
“Trust me, you have no idea how much I wish I had never picked them up, but I did.”
From Slate • May 28, 2026
Letting the team do as they wish, I simply stand on the back or push up the hills and do not care about winning or losing—only the dance counts.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
Vocabulary lists containing wish
