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
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The market will only want—and can only afford—four or five surviving players. John Rau, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025 But really, the only hope of upsetting the Kansas City Chiefs rested with Pittsburgh’s defense. Mike Defabo, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 Some of the women searching the prisons and morgues could only hope for this kind of closure. Lynsey Addario, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2024 City’s only hope is to sign a sensationally talented defensive midfielder in the January transfer window to plug the Rodri gap. Joe Prince-Wright, Nbc Sports, NBC News, 20 Dec. 2024 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 Jan. 2025.

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