wish
wish — verb
1. to say or think that you want a current situation to be different, because you a
to say or think that you want a current situation to be different, because you are not happy with things as they are now
Eshe wishes she knew how to play the guitar like her brother.
wish + past simple for present regret
I wish I did not have to wake up so early every day.
Tuan wishes he lived closer to the beach so he could swim more often.
Do you ever wish you had a bigger room to study in?
- wish + (that) + past simple
- wish + were/could
- be satisfied with
to accept a situation gladly rather than wanting it to change
Grammar Patterns
wish + (that) + past simple
Usage Note
Always uses past simple (not present tense) after 'wish' — for example, 'I wish I were...' not 'I wish I am...'. The past form signals that the situation is unreal or opposite to reality.
Common Mistakes
2. to feel sorry that something happened or did not happen in the past, and to want
to feel sorry that something happened or did not happen in the past, and to want it to have been different
Chidi wishes he had studied harder for the final exam last semester.
wish + past perfect for past regret
I wish I had not lent my car to my cousin that weekend.
Ava wishes she had taken the job offer in Berlin when she had the chance.
We all wish the team had won the championship last year.
- wish + had + past participle
- wish + hadn't
- regret
stronger and more direct than 'wish'; focuses on the feeling of being sorry, not the desire for a different past
Grammar Patterns
wish + (that) + past perfect
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (REGRET PRESENT): sense 2 uses past perfect ('had + past participle') to refer to a past action, while sense 1 uses past simple for a present situation. The same sentence structure difference tells the two apart.
Common Mistakes
3. to want or desire to do something, especially in a polite or formal way — simila
to want or desire to do something, especially in a polite or formal way — similar to wanting something very much
The customer wishes to speak directly to the store manager.
formal: wish + to-infinitive
If you wish to join the hiking club, please sign up before Friday.
Guests who wish to leave early may call for a taxi at the front desk.
Mei wished to become a marine biologist after visiting the aquarium with her class.
wish + to-infinitive for polite desire
Théo wished the meeting over as quickly as possible.
wish + object + adjective complement
- wish to + verb
- if you wish
- as you wish
- refuse
to state clearly that you do not want to do something
Grammar Patterns
wish + to-infinitive
wish + object + adjective/complement
Usage Note
Common in formal notices, polite requests, and official contexts. In everyday conversation, 'want to' or 'would like to' is more natural than 'wish to'. The structure 'wish + object + adjective' (e.g. 'wish it finished') is also formal.
Common Mistakes
4. to say that someone's behaviour annoys or frustrates you, and you want them to c
to say that someone's behaviour annoys or frustrates you, and you want them to change what they are doing
I wish you would stop tapping your pen on the table during the meeting.
wish + would for irritation at repeated action
Mira wishes her neighbours would not play loud music after midnight.
Do you wish your brother would help with the dishes once in a while?
Harper wishes the dog would stop barking at every noise outside.
- wish + would
- wish + wouldn't
- wish + would stop
- want someone to stop
more direct and less idiomatic; used in commands or requests rather than complaints
Grammar Patterns
wish + (that) + subject + would + verb
Usage Note
Uses 'would' to express irritation about a repeated or ongoing behaviour. The person being spoken about is usually capable of stopping the behaviour, which is why the speaker feels frustrated. If the situation cannot be changed, use sense 1 (REGRET PRESENT) instead.
Common Mistakes
5. to tell someone you want them to experience joy, good fortune, or achievement on
to tell someone you want them to experience joy, good fortune, or achievement on a special day or in a particular situation
Please wish your grandmother a happy birthday from all of us.
wish + someone + noun phrase
We all wished the bride and groom a long and joyful marriage.
Did you wish Layla good luck before her job interview this morning?
The whole team wished our colleague a speedy recovery after his surgery.
wish + someone + a speedy recovery
- wish + someone + luck
- wish + someone + a happy birthday
- wish + someone + well
- hope you have
less direct than 'wish'; states the hope rather than expressing it as a greeting
Grammar Patterns
wish + someone + something
Usage Note
Ditransitive — always takes two objects: the person (indirect object) and the desired outcome (direct object). Common fixed phrases: 'wish someone well', 'wish someone luck', 'wish someone a happy birthday'.
Common Mistakes
6. to place the adverb 'well' — or very rarely 'ill' — directly after the person's
to place the adverb 'well' — or very rarely 'ill' — directly after the person's name, signalling that you want their efforts or journey to succeed (or, in rare cases, to fail)
We all wish you well in your new job at the hospital.
fixed phrase: wish someone well
No matter what happens, I wish you well on your journey ahead.
The teacher wished the graduating class well as they left the school.
Ryo wished his rival well before the chess tournament began.
- wish + well
- wish + the best
- hope someone does well
less compact than 'wish well'; used in fuller sentences
Grammar Patterns
wish + someone + well/ill
Usage Note
The core pattern is 'wish someone well'. The opposite 'wish someone ill' exists but is very rare and strongly disapproved in modern use. This sense overlaps with sense 5 (WELL WISHES) but uses an adverb ('well') instead of a noun phrase.
7. to hope very strongly that something you desire will come true, often by making
to hope very strongly that something you desire will come true, often by making a silent request to luck, a star, or an imagined magical force
The little girl closed her eyes and wished for a pony for her birthday.
wish + for + desired thing
Make a wish before you blow out all the candles on the cake.
fixed phrase: make a wish
When you see a shooting star, you are supposed to wish upon it.
wish + upon + star
Nikos wished that his injured leg would heal before the summer games.
- make a wish
- wish for
- wish upon a star
- wish came true
- hope for
less magical; does not carry the superstitious or ritual connotation of 'wish upon a star'
Grammar Patterns
wish + for + something
wish + that + something + would happen
wish + upon
Usage Note
Often used with 'make' as 'make a wish', especially in contexts like birthday candles, shooting stars, or wishing wells. 'Wish for' specifies the desired thing. 'Wish upon' is tied to folklore (stars, wells, etc.).
Common Mistakes
8. to say a polite greeting or farewell to someone using words like good morning, g
to say a polite greeting or farewell to someone using words like good morning, good night, or goodbye
The doorman wished every guest good evening as they entered the hotel.
wish + someone + time-of-day greeting
Sven wished his colleagues goodbye before leaving for the airport.
The hostess smiled and wished us a pleasant afternoon as we left the restaurant.
The flight attendant wished everyone a safe trip home over the loudspeaker.
- wish + good morning
- wish + good night
- wish + goodbye
- bid
archaic or very formal; 'wish' is the normal modern word for this meaning
Grammar Patterns
wish + someone + good morning/afternoon/evening
Usage Note
Follows the same ditransitive pattern as senses 5 and 6 (wish + someone + greeting). The greeting is typically a time-of-day phrase ('good morning', 'good night') or a polite wish ('a safe journey', 'a pleasant stay').
wish away
phrasal verbTo try to make something unpleasant disappear by wishing it would go away, without taking action.
You cannot wish away your financial problems by ignoring them.
She tried to wish away the pain, but it only got worse.
wish on
phrasal verbTo want something bad to happen to someone else, often used in negative sentences.
I wouldn't wish that kind of trouble on my worst enemy.
He wished a curse on the man who stole his car.
I/you wish!
idiomUsed to express that something you want is not possible or very unlikely.
Mia said she would finish the report today. I wish!
You think you can beat me at chess? You wish!
wish — noun
1. a strong desire for something you would like to happen or obtain, especially whe
a strong desire for something you would like to happen or obtain, especially when it is not easy to achieve
Her dearest wish was to study medicine at a top university.
dearest wish — strong desire
He expressed a wish to visit Japan during the cherry blossom season.
express a wish + to-infinitive
The committee respected the family's wish for privacy during the ceremony.
respect someone's wish for + noun
It was my mother's dying wish that we take care of her garden.
Against her parents' wishes, Alessia moved to London to start a band.
against someone's wishes
- express a wish
- have no wish to
- dearest wish
- against someone's wishes
- last wish
- dying wish
- desire
stronger and more formal than 'wish'; suggests urgent wanting
- preference
milder than 'wish'; indicates what someone would rather have
- dislike
a feeling of not wanting something at all
Grammar Patterns
wish + to-infinitive
wish + for + noun
Usage Note
Can be countable ('a wish', 'her wishes') or uncountable ('She had no wish to argue'). The plural 'wishes' often refers to a set of desires or the requests of someone in authority ('his parents' wishes', 'her dying wishes').
Common Mistakes
2. expressions of care spoken in person or sent through messages, usually meant to
expressions of care spoken in person or sent through messages, usually meant to show you hope someone will be happy, healthy, or successful — common when wrapping up a letter, sending a card, or marking a celebration
Please give my best wishes to your parents when you see them.
best wishes — fixed greeting
Sofia's colleagues sent their warmest wishes for a speedy recovery after the accident.
The card simply read: With love and best wishes from Grandpa.
We received many good wishes from friends on our wedding day.
- best wishes
- warm wishes
- good wishes
- give someone your wishes
- with best wishes
Usage Note
Almost always plural: 'wishes', not 'a wish'. The singular 'wish' in greeting contexts (like 'Best wish') is incorrect. Common in formulaic closings of letters and emails: 'Best wishes', 'Warm wishes', 'With best wishes'.
Common Mistakes
3. a silent hope for something good that you make in a special moment, believing it
a silent hope for something good that you make in a special moment, believing it might come true through luck or magic
Make a wish before you blow out the candles on the birthday cake.
make a wish — fixed phrase in magical contexts
Tamar closed her eyes and made a wish before tossing a coin into the fountain.
In the old story, the fairy granted the woodcutter three wishes.
Her wish came true when she finally adopted a puppy from the shelter.
wish came true
The old fisherman stared at the moon and made a wish that his son would return home safely.
make a wish + that-clause for a hope
- make a wish
- grant a wish
- wish came true
- have a wish
- wish upon a star
- hope
less magical and more realistic than 'wish'; doesn't imply supernatural forces
Grammar Patterns
make a wish
wish + that-clause
Usage Note
Typically used with 'make' (make a wish) or 'grant' (grant a wish). 'Wish comes true' is the common way to say a wish was fulfilled. In fairy tales and folklore, a magical being 'grants' someone's wish.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- wishfuladjectiveC1
- wishfullyadverbC1
- wishful thinkingnoun phraseC1
- wishy-washyadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Wish, desire, hope, and preference all relate to wanting something, but they differ in strength and certainty. 'Wish' (B2) is a general feeling of wanting something, often something difficult or unlikely — 'a wish for peace', 'her dying wish'. 'Desire' (B2) is more intense and formal, suggesting a strong emotional pull — 'a deep desire to succeed'. 'Hope' (B1) is more optimistic than wish; it implies you believe the thing might actually happen — 'the hope of finding a cure'. 'Preference' (B2) is milder and more about choice between options — 'my preference is tea over coffee'. In everyday speech, 'wish' is the most versatile noun for personal wants: 'my wish is to travel the world'. 'Hope' is better when the outcome is realistic. 'Desire' fits formal or emotional writing.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'wish' comes from Old English 'wyscan', which meant 'to desire, to long for'. It goes back to an ancient Proto-Indo-European root *wenh₁- meaning 'to wish, to love, to strive for'. This same root gave us the Latin 'venus' (love, desire) and the English words 'win', 'wont', and 'winsome'. Over centuries, the spelling changed from 'wyscan' in Old English to 'wischen' in Middle English, then settled into the modern form 'wish'.