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
Forever, the Timberwolves could only hope for lottery luck at this time of year, putting all of their faith in ping-pong balls and a potential savior waiting to join them via the draft.
—
Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 30 May 2025
The film sees Porky Pig and Daffy Duck become unlikely heroes and Earth’s only hope when their antics at the local bubble gum factory uncover a secret alien mind control plot.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 May 2025
Well, more like self-serving intentions; Oscar might only want to see his young mentee celebrated for her work, though at no point does Yurlady indicate a similar ambition.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 19 May 2025
But his espionage comedy The Phoenician Scheme, playing in competition here at the Cannes Film Festival, shows glimmers of something that might be called anger, or at least frustration, over the greed and immorality of people who have too much—and yet only want more.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 May 2025
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Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 30 May 2025
The film sees Porky Pig and Daffy Duck become unlikely heroes and Earth’s only hope when their antics at the local bubble gum factory uncover a secret alien mind control plot.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 May 2025
Well, more like self-serving intentions; Oscar might only want to see his young mentee celebrated for her work, though at no point does Yurlady indicate a similar ambition.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 19 May 2025
But his espionage comedy The Phoenician Scheme, playing in competition here at the Cannes Film Festival, shows glimmers of something that might be called anger, or at least frustration, over the greed and immorality of people who have too much—and yet only want more.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 May 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 7 Jun. 2025.
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