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.
I wish we’d finish the task and encourage democracy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
“Maybe it’s a fantasy, and maybe it’s wish fulfillment.”
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
“I wish the ballpark was bigger,” Savage said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
He added: "I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have reached out to me with kindness, my former colleagues, and my beloved listeners, who I greatly miss."
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
“I guess I just wasn’t ready. I wish I could have, for Louisa.”
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
