wish
verb (used with object)
to want; desire; long for (usually followed by an infinitive or a clause).
had been wishing
-
past perfect progressiveof wish.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
Neymar said he had been "wishing for this moment to come true for a long time" when announcing his return to Santos on deal which runs until 30 June.
From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2025
“We had been wishing for this for so, so long.”
From New York Times ● Jan. 11, 2019
For some time, I had been wishing to gift an acquaintance $50 for goods on Amazon, but was unsure as to how to proceed.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 25, 2012
That’s a reprimand audiences had been wishing for, since Sid has been acting the idiot.
From Time ● Nov. 15, 2011
The Ruler of India sent the BFG a magnificent elephant, the very thing he had been wishing for all his life.
From "The BFG" by Roald Dahl
