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” ( see winsome), Latin venus “charm” ( see Venus); noun derivative of the verb

Example Sentences

Doncic can expect a postcard in the mail: Wish you were there.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026

Fleeing back to the city, he finds a piece of paper with the song’s title, “I Wish You’d Wanted Me,” taped to his mailbox.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

The Olympic singles silver medallist from Beijing hit two quadruple jumps in his routine to a remix of "I Wish" but stumbled on his triple axel.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

The elaborate, eight-bedroom compound on 1.5 acres has its own boutique winery, dubbed Wish Vineyards.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 5, 2026

“Wish I could tell you life is easy, but it ain’t. Wish I could tell you you won’t hurt nobody, but you will, and guess what, people gon’ hurt you, too.

From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

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