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
The left’s only hope of picking up any seats is in Florida and Texas, where Scott and Sen. Ted Cruz face strong Democratic challengers but are still widely favored to win.
—
Alison Durkee, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024
So hot that your only hope is cranking up your air conditioner to full blast.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 23 Aug. 2024
Vance himself voted last month to block legislation that would guarantee national access to in-vitro fertilization—many couples’ only hope for having a biological child.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 26 July 2024
For instance, some rabbits are skittish and only want to be admired from afar, and a few Tibetan yaks that were rescued from a meat farm aren’t quite ready to mingle with guests.
—Graham Averill, Outside Online, 19 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for only wish/want/hope 
Alison Durkee, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024
So hot that your only hope is cranking up your air conditioner to full blast.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 23 Aug. 2024
Vance himself voted last month to block legislation that would guarantee national access to in-vitro fertilization—many couples’ only hope for having a biological child.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 26 July 2024
For instance, some rabbits are skittish and only want to be admired from afar, and a few Tibetan yaks that were rescued from a meat farm aren’t quite ready to mingle with guests.
—Graham Averill, Outside Online, 19 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for only wish/want/hope
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'only wish/want/hope.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Only wish/want/hope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/only%20wish%2Fwant%2Fhope. Accessed 18 Sep. 2024.
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