only wish/want/hope
idiom
—used to stress that someone's wishing/wanting/hoping something is the simple truth
He only wished she'd told him sooner.
I only wish I knew what was going on.
He only wanted to help.
I only hope she can get over this.
Examples of only wish/want/hope in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
My only hope is that this movie doesn’t ruin the album for me.
—
Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2025
While some Gazans have rejected emigration, others see it as their only hope.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 11 Feb. 2025
The Chiefs, Eagles, their fans and the N.F.L. as a whole can only hope this Super Bowl isn’t decided by any controversial calls.
—Jeremy Engle, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2025
If the team slides out of the playoff picture, B’s management can only hope that Chicago misread the market and simply made a bad deal.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for only wish/want/hope 
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Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2025
While some Gazans have rejected emigration, others see it as their only hope.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 11 Feb. 2025
The Chiefs, Eagles, their fans and the N.F.L. as a whole can only hope this Super Bowl isn’t decided by any controversial calls.
—Jeremy Engle, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2025
If the team slides out of the playoff picture, B’s management can only hope that Chicago misread the market and simply made a bad deal.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for only wish/want/hope
Dictionary Entries Near only wish/want/hope
Cite this Entry
“Only wish/want/hope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/only%20wish%2Fwant%2Fhope. Accessed 15 Feb. 2025.
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