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.
"The best is to come for Benin. My wish is to see a great and powerful Benin in which everyone finds their place," Talon said on emerging from the poll booth.
From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026
Mastering English can open doors, but what if you wish you didn’t have to walk through them?
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026
Her wish list changes year-to-year, but she always arrives when the gates open, hoping to snag a gnome.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
On Friday afternoon, when asked what he told Vance before he left for Islamabad, Trump told reporters: "I wish him luck. He's got a big thing."
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
Letting the team do as they wish, I simply stand on the back or push up the hills and do not care about winning or losing—only the dance counts.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
Vocabulary lists containing wish
