wish
Usage
What are other ways to say wish?
To wish is to feel an impulse toward attainment or possession of something; the strength of the feeling may be of greater or lesser intensity: I wish I could go home. Desire, a more formal verb, suggests a strong wish: They desire liberation. Want, usually colloquial in use, suggests a feeling of lack or need that imperatively demands fulfillment: People all over the world want peace.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“I wish I could go back in time and change that decision, but I cannot,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
The third-year coach had his wish somewhat granted, as the Chargers presented several encouraging performances in a 20-18 loss to the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Thursday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
"Should the family wish for him to be buried on the territory of Serbia, we will help ensure that this is done in a dignified and proper manner," he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026
The La Liga club also released two public statements in the space of 24 hours reiterating their stance that Alvarez will not be granted his wish to join Barca in the coming days.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
“I wish you the best of luck. Really all I wanted to tell you is that I’m leaving. I’m moving, tomorrow.”
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Should I keep the entire $800,000 in stocks and accept the risk of a major downturn, in part to honor my father’s wishes?
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026
Indeed, they are part of the price-formation process that creates the signals Mr. Druckenmiller wishes for.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Katseye ended its Daisy Chain Fields announcement by sending their best wishes to Rodrigo, the rest of the lineup and all who put effort toward the event.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
"This is how an African dad looks at you when you pursue a career that goes against his wishes and you turn out to be successful," a chuckling Itauma reads aloud to BBC Sport.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
The master squeezed the wooden peg, and the veiled "women" started shouting their good wishes.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
"Now it is my turn," his 53-year-old son said, adding that a "major task" awaited him and that he wished to be "present and attentive" going forward.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
She wanted to know whether her donor was still alive and, if so, whether he still wished to remain anonymous.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Walsh, the hospitality owner, said he was surprised a few days ago when he saw that someone—using a chalkboard where locals trade messages—had wished SpaceX employees luck running a marathon on the island.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
“Of course the fairy tale ending was wished by all,” one commenter wrote on Facebook.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Then she spoke, in a voice so dark, so rough and so filled with fury that I wished I could turn back time and put the words back inside me.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
No one dies wishing they had worked more than they needed to — but plenty do wishing they had spent more time with their loved ones.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026
“I’ll be there with everybody else, wishing and hoping.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
But the Hisbah officer wanted to assure all those wishing to wed in future that the entire process should not cost them a single naira.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
When I say I wish someone had spoken to me at 15, I am not wishing someone had told me I looked sick.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Uneasy, I look away, wishing I didn’t still smell smoke.
From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Vocabulary lists containing wish
