only wish/want/hope
idiom
—used to stress that someone's wishing/wanting/hoping something is the simple truth
He only wished she'd told him sooner.
I only wish I knew what was going on.
He only wanted to help.
I only hope she can get over this.
Examples of only wish/want/hope in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Furthermore, Beijing’s only hope of expanding engagement with the Middle East now lies with the Arab states; and the Arab states, which are increasingly likely to join the Abraham Accords, are the key for China to normalize contacts with the region and sidestep Iranian ambitions.
—
Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
The best and perhaps only hope of reducing the size and occurrence of harmful algal blooms is to reduce the amount of nutrients reaching the Great Lakes.
—Gregory J. Dick, The Conversation, 26 June 2025
Many Iranians inside Iran today view Israel as their only hope of overthrowing the mullahs.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 26 June 2025
Liberty Media can only hope that this Pitt movie has the same impact that Cruise’s Thunder had on NASCAR.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2025
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Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
The best and perhaps only hope of reducing the size and occurrence of harmful algal blooms is to reduce the amount of nutrients reaching the Great Lakes.
—Gregory J. Dick, The Conversation, 26 June 2025
Many Iranians inside Iran today view Israel as their only hope of overthrowing the mullahs.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 26 June 2025
Liberty Media can only hope that this Pitt movie has the same impact that Cruise’s Thunder had on NASCAR.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for only wish/want/hope
Cite this Entry
“Only wish/want/hope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/only%20wish%2Fwant%2Fhope. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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