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
For many of these patients, a liver transplant is their only hope for treatment.
—
Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Its only hope for holding on to power in Gaza is the intervention of the international community.
—Seth Mandel, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Lincolnwood village trustees not only want to look at regulations on e-bikes, but also consider the impact traditional bicycles have on pedestrians, opting to send further consideration of the issue to its Traffic Commission.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025
For an unnamed father and son living in a burned, decaying America, their only hope on a perilous journey to the coast is their connection to each other.
—Robert English, EW.com, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for only wish/want/hope
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.
Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Its only hope for holding on to power in Gaza is the intervention of the international community.
—Seth Mandel, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Lincolnwood village trustees not only want to look at regulations on e-bikes, but also consider the impact traditional bicycles have on pedestrians, opting to send further consideration of the issue to its Traffic Commission.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025
For an unnamed father and son living in a burned, decaying America, their only hope on a perilous journey to the coast is their connection to each other.
—Robert English, EW.com, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share