wish

1 of 2

verb

ˈwish 

wished; wishing; wishes

transitive verb

1

: to have a desire for (something, such as something unattainable)

wished he could live his life over

2

: to give expression to as a wish : bid

wish them good night

3

a

: to give form to (a wish)

b

: to express a wish for

c

: to request in the form of a wish : order

d

: to desire (a person or thing) to be as specified

cannot wish our problems away

4

: to confer (something unwanted) on someone : foist

intransitive verb

1

: to have a desire : want

wishing for more

2

: to make a wish

wish on a falling star

wisher noun

wish

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an act or instance of wishing or desire : want

a wish to travel

b

: an object of desire : goal

2

a

: an expressed will or desire : mandate

b

: a request or command couched as a wish

3

: an invocation of good or evil fortune on someone

Synonyms

Verb

• fob off
• foist
• palm
• palm off
• pass off

Choose the Right Synonym for wish

desire, wish, want, crave, covet mean to have a longing for.

desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.

desires to start a new life

wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.

wishes for permanent world peace

want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.

wants to have a family

crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.

craves sweets

covet implies strong envious desire.

covets his rise to fame

Examples of wish in a Sentence

Verb

You may use the telephone, if you wish.

She wished them a happy New Year.

We wish you a Merry Christmas.

Noun

He has a wish to be reunited with his son.

The genie will grant you three wishes.

Send her my good wishes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Any president would wish for that kind of coverage going into an election; the Democrats are hoping Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden’s successor, can take it and run with it. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024

But doing so would require leaders who wish to do so. —Eladio B. Bobadilla / Made By History, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024

Noun

Against George’s wishes and Rita’s better judgment, George becomes one of the hundreds of thousands of children evacuated from the city during the Blitz. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

Hamilton and Madison would likely have argued that the system, in fact, worked as intended, allowing the candidate who was not dependent on the votes of a single state to assume office contrary to the wishes of most of the people of most of the states. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English wisshen, from Old English wȳscan; akin to Old High German wunsken to wish, Sanskrit vāñchati he wishes, vanoti he strives for — more at win

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing wish

• (be) careful what you wish for
• death wish
• (don't) I wish
• (don't) you wish
• dying wish
• get one's wish
• have no wish
• make a wish
• only wish/want/hope
• pious hope/wish
• someone's wish comes true
• someone's wish is my command
• wish away
• wish fulfillment
• wish list
• wish (someone) luck
• wish (someone or something) on (someone)
• wish someone well
• wish-wash

Kids Definition

wish

1 of 2 verb

ˈwish 

1

: to have a desire : long for : want

wish you were here

wish for a puppy

2

: to form or express a desire concerning

wished them a happy New Year

3

: to request by expressing a desire

I wish you to go now

wisher noun

wish

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: an act or instance of wishing or desire

a wish to travel

b

: an object of desire : goal

I got my wish—a good score on the test

2

: a wishing of good fortune

sends her best wishes