wish
verb (used with object)
to want; desire; long for (usually followed by an infinitive or a clause).
were wishing
-
past progressiveof wish.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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 realized a lot of wives were wishing their husbands were there and they weren’t,” he said.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026
"It's like something that you wouldn't believe can happen and you were wishing for it to happen and then it's coming true all of a sudden."
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2025
“People were wishing me good luck, and I would say ‘I don’t want any luck involved in this thing.’”
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 13, 2023
“We were wishing for the rain, but it came too much too soon,” Clockshop executive director Sue Bell Yank said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 14, 2023
Harry felt oddly separate from everyone around him, whether they were wishing him good luck or hissing “We’ll have a box of tissues ready, Potter” as he passed.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
