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 just want to wish you a lot of luck," he added.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
Mark Hulbert explained how gold’s usefulness as a hedge against geopolitical risk depends on how long you wish to commit.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 12, 2026
What would summer on the beach be without chocolate and marshmallows between graham crackers—or without angst and wish fulfillment between book covers?
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
One local woman, who did not wish to be named, told us she thought the area had become "lawless".
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
A fresh wave of grief washes over me as I watch a couple of residents play cards, and I wish I hadn’t let Mom talk me into coming.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Vocabulary lists containing wish
