wish

American  

[wish] / wɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to want; desire; long for (usually followed by an infinitive or a clause).

   I wish to travel.

   I wish that it were morning.

   Synonyms:

   crave

2. to desire (a person or thing) to be (as specified).

   to wish the problem settled.

3. to entertain wishes, favorably or otherwise, for.

   to wish someone well;

   to wish someone ill.

4. to bid, as in greeting or leave-taking.

   to wish someone a good morning.

5. to request or charge.

   I wish him to come.

   Synonyms:

   order, direct

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verb (used without object)

1. to desire; long; yearn (often followed byfor ).

   Mother says I may go if I wish.

   I wished for a book.

2. to make a wish.

   She wished more than she worked.

noun

1. an act or instance of wishing.

2. a request or command.

   I was never forgiven for disregarding my father's wishes.

   Synonyms:

   want, will, desire

3. an expression of a wish, often one of a kindly or courteous nature.

   to send one's best wishes.

4. something wished or desired.

   He got his wish—a new car.

verb phrase

1. wish on

   1. to force or impose (usually used in the negative).

      I wouldn't wish that awful job on my worst enemy.

   2. Also wish upon. to make a wish using some object as a magical talisman.

      to wish on a star.

wish British  

/ wɪʃ /

verb

1. to want or desire (something, often that which cannot be or is not the case)

   I wish I lived in Italy

   to wish for peace

2. (tr) to feel or express a desire or hope concerning the future or fortune of

   I wish you well

3. (tr) to desire or prefer to be as specified

4. (tr) to greet as specified; bid

   he wished us good afternoon

5. formal (tr) to order politely

   I wish you to come at three o'clock

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noun

1. the act of wishing; the expression of some desire or mental inclination

   to make a wish

2. something desired or wished for

   he got his wish

3. (usually plural) expressed hopes or desire, esp for someone's welfare, health, etc

4. formal (often plural) a polite order or request

wish Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing wish

• if wishes were horses

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Usage

What are other ways to say wish? To wish is to want or long for something. How is wish different from desire and want? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

• interwish verb (used with object)
• outwish verb (used with object)
• wisher noun
• wishless adjective

Etymology

Origin of wish

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb wishen, Old English wȳscan; cognate with German wünschen, Old Norse æskja; akin to Old English wynn “joy” ( winsome ), Latin venus “charm” ( Venus ); noun derivative of the verb

Example Sentences

One significant part of your wish to retire early is to spend more time focusing on your diet and health.

From MarketWatch

You didn’t choose this situation, but you are still in control of your future and the new life you wish to create for yourself.

From MarketWatch

Mr. Søndergård told me privately that he enjoyed leading the piece so much he wished he’d had three performances in which to savor it.

From The Wall Street Journal

Log in to your respective payroll systems, click through to the deposit information tab, and select that you wish to choose multiple destinations for your pay — either by percentage or by fixed-dollar amount.

From MarketWatch

Unionists, who wished to preserve Northern Ireland’s place in the U.K., were largely unsympathetic.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ambition
• aspiration
• choice
• hope
• inclination
• intention
• longing
• prayer
• preference
• request
• will
• yearning