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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her way of seeing the world frames Osborn’s politics, that people are exhausted, overworked and often not heard, but most of them are good and only want what’s fair. Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2025 Eric Dane is cast as Weaving’s bodyguard and only hope of escaping the contrived wedding planned by her obsessed fan. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2025 There are consumers who only want to avoid high-risk ingredients, and there are those who want to avoid high-, moderate- and low-risk ingredients altogether. Noor Lobad, WWD, 11 Feb. 2025 Hard to see who will be able to resist this new feature from Come Play helmer Chase, told from the POV of a loyal terrier devoted to his new owner, Cameron (Quan) who discovers a captive girl (Reinhart) locked away in the basement, becoming her only hope for survival. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for only wish/want/hope

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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 2 Mar. 2025.

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