Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense wishes, present participle wishing, past tense, past participle wished
1. countable noun [oft with poss]
A wish is a desire or strong feeling that you want to have something or do something.
She was sincere and genuine in her wish to make amends for the past.
Clearly she had no wish for conversation. [+ for]
She wanted to go everywhere in the world. She soon got her wish.
The decision was made against the wishes of the party leader. [+ of]
Synonyms: request, will, want, order More Synonyms of wish
2. See also death wish
3. verb
If you wishto do something or to have it done for you, you want to do it or have it done.
[formal]
Older children may not wish to spend all their time in adult company. [VERB to-infinitive]
We can dress as we wish now. [VERB]
There were the collaborators, who wished for a German victory. [VERB + for]
Synonyms: want, feel, choose, please More Synonyms of wish
4. verb [with brd-neg]
Wish is used in expressions such as I don't wishto be rude or without wishingto be rude as a way of apologizing or warning someone when you are going to say something which might upset, annoy, or worry them.
[politeness]
I don't wish to sound callous, but I am glad I wasn't here. [VERB to-infinitive]
Without wishing to be unkind, she's not the most interesting company. [VERB to-infinitive]
5. verb [no cont]
If you wish something were true, you would like it to be true, even though you know that it is impossible or unlikely.
I wish that I could do that. [VERB that]
I wish it weren't true. [VERB that]
Pa, I wish you wouldn't shout. [VERB that]
The world is not always what we wish it to be. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
6. verb
If you wish for something, you express the desire for that thing silently to yourself. In fairy stories, when a person wishes for something, the thing they wish for often happens by magic.
We have all wished for men who are more considerate. [VERB + for]
A philosopher once said, 'Be careful what you wish for; you might get it.' [VERBfor noun]
Wish is also a noun.
Blow out the candles and make a wish.
7. verb [no cont, usually with brd-neg]
Wish is used in sentences such as I could not wish for anything better to indicate that you are very pleased with what you have and could not imagine anything better.
[feelings]
I really could not have wished for a better teacher. [VERBfor noun]
Who could wish for a better opportunity? [VERBfor noun]
8. verb [no cont]
If you say that you would not wish a particular thing on someone, you mean that the thing is so unpleasant that you would not want them to be forced to experience it.
It's a horrid experience and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. [VERB noun + on]
9. verb
If you wish someone something such as luck or happiness, you express the hope that they will be lucky or happy.
I wish you both a very good journey. [VERB noun noun]
Goodbye, Hanu. I wish you well. [VERB noun adverb]
10. plural noun [adjective NOUN]
If you express your good wishes towards someone, you are politely expressing your friendly feelings towards them and your hope that they will be successful or happy.
[politeness]
I found George's story very sad. Please give him my best wishes.
Western leaders sent good wishes to the new American president.
More Synonyms of wish
wish in British English
(wɪʃ)
verb
1. (whentr, takes a clause as object or an infinitive; when intr, often foll by for)
to want or desire (something, often that which cannot be or is not the case)
I wish I lived in Italy
to wish for peace
2. (transitive)
to feel or express a desire or hope concerning the future or fortune of
I wish you well
3. (transitive)
to desire or prefer to be as specified
4. (transitive)
to greet as specified; bid
he wished us good afternoon
5. (transitive) formal
to order politely
I wish you to come at three o'clock
noun
6.
the act of wishing; the expression of some desire or mental inclination
to make a wish
7.
something desired or wished for
he got his wish
8. (usually plural)
expressed hopes or desire, esp for someone's welfare, health, etc
9. (often plural) formal
a polite order or request
Derived forms
wisher (ˈwisher)
noun
wishless (ˈwishless)
adjective
Word origin
Old English wӯscan; related to Old Norse öskja, German wünschen, Dutch wenschen
wish in American English
(wɪʃ)
verb transitive
1.
to have a longing for; want; desire; crave
2.
to have or express a desire concerning
to wish the day were over
3.
to have or express a desire concerning the fortune, circumstances, etc. of
to wish someone good luck
4.
to give a (specified) greeting to; bid
to wish a person good morning
5.
to request or order
to wish a person to come
6.
to impose (something burdensome or unpleasant) on someone
verb intransitive
7.
to have a desire; long; yearn
8.
to make a wish
noun
9.
the act of wishing; felt or expressed desire for something
10.
something wished for
to get one's wish
11.
a polite request with some of the force of an order
12. [pl.]
expressed desire for a person's well-being, good fortune, etc.
to offer one's best wishes
SIMILAR WORDS: deˈsire
Derived forms
wisher (ˈwisher)
noun
Word origin
ME wisshen < OE wyscan, akin to Ger wünschen < IE base *wen-, to strive (for), desire > win, L Venus
More idioms containing
wish
wish you could turn back the clock
COBUILD Collocations
wish
birthday wish
sincere wish
Examples of 'wish' in a sentence
wish
It would be weird not to wish him good luck.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We cuddled her and were united in our wish to make her welcome.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In line with his wishes it will help older people in the area.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He tells me he loves me and wishes things were different.
The Sun (2016)
Neptune moves forward in your job chart and career plans go from wishes to action.
The Sun (2016)
It's much better to try and fail than to wish you had given it a go.
The Sun (2016)
As Jupiter is deep in your birth sign the hopes and wishes that matter most can happen.
The Sun (2016)
It was as much a wish come true for me as for Robyn.
The Sun (2016)
If there is a conversation you wish you had handled differently, talk again today for a better outcome.
The Sun (2016)
You're also more likely to be able to count backwards, should this be something you wish to do.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their pleasures derive from fulfilling internal wishes and desires and they find solitude easy to bear.
Knowles, Jane Know Your Own Mind (1991)
Viewers who are easily upset may wish to give the first five minutes a miss.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Is there anything you wish to say in mitigation?
Clerk, Jayana & Siegel, Ruth Modern Literatures of the Non-Western World: Where the Waters Are Born (1995)
The wishes you make with a sincere heart could happen for you.
The Sun (2011)
He had expressed a wish to continue lying outside in the sun.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There is a fairytale about a man who is given three wishes but wastes them.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And no one will wish to care for a bully when that bully is old.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We really should not wish such a thing on our worst enemies.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Then you will be able to make the most of your hopes and wishes.
The Sun (2014)
They wished him goodnight and wandered away singing.
Len Deighton Bomber
He was by no means perfect but he had a genuine wish to better himself.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The wishes and feelings of persons come second.
Christianity Today (2000)
True talking replaces wishing and transforms your love life.
The Sun (2011)
You have only to wish for something for it to come about.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
If you have been given a wish you have also been given a way of fulfilling it.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVE THINKING: Everything you have always known about positive thinking but wereafraid to put into practice (2001)
Do anything you wish for them while they are in the neighbourhood.
Frances Hodgson Burnett Emily Fox-Seton (1901)
Ask them to express their wishes directly.
The Sun (2016)
More than one in three wished they had waited until they were older.
The Sun (2008)
The moon visits your talk chart and if you wish a conversation had gone differently then a fresh try should go better.
The Sun (2009)
Wish her good luck - it sounds like she needs it.
The Sun (2011)
Had they wished to, good arguments were at hand.
Frank Welsh THE FOUR NATIONS: A History of the United Kingdom (2002)
Instead of wishing a conversation had gone differently, try again and it could go much better.
The Sun (2008)
You'll get the action and answers you need to make a personal wish come true.
The Sun (2010)
LETTER no stronger desire than the wish to become a mother.
The Sun (2007)
The actor added graciously: 'I wish him well.
The Sun (2008)
Quotations
The wish is father to the thought
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride
In other languages
wish
British English: wish /wɪʃ/ NOUN
A wish is a desire for something.
Her wish is to be in films.
American English: wish
Arabic: أُمْنِيَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: desejo
Chinese: 愿望
Croatian: želja
Czech: přání
Danish: ønske
Dutch: wens
European Spanish: deseo voluntad
Finnish: toive
French: souhait
German: Wunsch
Greek: ευχή
Italian: desiderio
Japanese: 願い
Korean: 소원 희망
Norwegian: ønske
Polish: życzenie składanie
European Portuguese: desejo
Romanian: dorință
Russian: желание
Latin American Spanish: deseo
Swedish: önskan
Thai: ความต้องการ
Turkish: dilek
Ukrainian: бажання
Vietnamese: điều ước
British English: wish /wɪʃ/ VERB
If you wish to do something, you want to do it.
I wish to leave a message.
American English: wish
Arabic: يَتَمَنَّى
Brazilian Portuguese: desejar
Chinese: 希望
Croatian: željeti
Czech: přát si
Danish: ønske
Dutch: wensen
European Spanish: desear querer
Finnish: toivoa
French: souhaiter
German: wünschen
Greek: εύχομαι
Italian: desiderare
Japanese: 願う
Korean: 바라다
Norwegian: ønske
Polish: zapragnąć
European Portuguese: desejar
Romanian: a dori
Russian: желать
Latin American Spanish: desear
Swedish: önska
Thai: ปรารถนา
Turkish: dilemek
Ukrainian: бажати
Vietnamese: ước
All related terms of 'wish'
wish on
to hope that (someone or something) should be imposed (on someone); foist
wish list
If you refer to someone's wish list , you mean all the things which they would like to happen or be given, although these things may be unlikely .
wish-wash
any thin weak drink
death wish
A death wish is a conscious or unconscious desire to die or be killed .
birthday wish
A wish is a desire or strong feeling that you want to have something or do something.
sincere wish
A wish is a desire or strong feeling that you want to have something or do something.
wish fulfilment
(in Freudian psychology ) any successful attempt to fulfil a wish stemming from the unconscious mind, whether in fact, in fantasy , or by such disguised means as sublimation
wish fulfillment
the realization of a desire or wish
wish someone well
to wish success or good fortune for someone
hope to hell/wish to hell
If you say you hope to hell or wish to hell that something is true , you are emphasizing that you strongly hope or wish it is true.
wish you could turn back the clock
to wish to return to an earlier period, for example because you think it was a very good time or because you would like the chance to live your life differently
Chinese translation of 'wish'
wish
(wɪʃ)
n(c)
愿(願)望 (yuànwàng) (个(個), gè)
vt
但愿(願) (dànyuàn)
to make a wish (silently) 默默地许(許)愿(願) (mòmò de xǔyuàn) (out loud) 大声(聲)地许(許)愿(願) (dàshēng de xǔyuàn)
we have no wish to cause problems我们(們)并(並)不想引起麻烦(煩) (wǒmen bìng bù xiǎng yǐnqǐ máfan)
best wishes (on birthday, promotion etc) 良好的祝愿(願) (liánghǎo de zhùyuàn)
with best wishes (in letter) 祝好 (zhùhǎo)
give her my best wishes代我向她致意 (dài wǒ xiàng tā zhìyì)
to wish to do sth想要做某事 (xiǎngyào zuò mǒushì)
to wish sb goodbye/good night向某人告别(別)/道晚安 (xiàng mǒurén gàobié/dào wǎn'ān)
to wish sb well祝某人一切顺(順)利 (zhù mǒurén yīqiè shùnlì)
to wish sth on sb想让(讓)某事发(發)生在某人身上 (xiǎng ràng mǒushì fāshēng zài mǒurén shēnshang)