wish

play

verb \ ˈwish \

Definition of wish

transitive verb

1 :to have a desire for (something, such as something unattainable)

wished he could live his life over

2 :to give expression to as a wish :bid

wish them good night

3 a :to give form to (a wish)

b :to express a wish for

c :to request in the form of a wish :order

d :to desire (a person or thing) to be as specified

cannot wish our problems away

4 :to confer (something unwanted) on someone :foist

intransitive verb

1 :to have a desire :want

wishing for more

2 :to make a wish

wish on a falling star

—

wisher

noun

See wish defined for English-language learners

See wish defined for kids

Examples of wish in a Sentence

You may use the telephone, if you wish.
She wished them a happy New Year.
We wish you a Merry Christmas.

Recent Examples of wish from the Web

A donation station will also be set up for concertgoers who wish to donate items like non-perishable food and toiletries.

— courtney ortega, star-telegram, "Dallas-Fort Worth businesses hosting special promotions to benefit Hurricane Harvey relief," 29 Aug. 2017
Emily Celarek, of Elgin, stopped by the Ace parking lot on Elgin's west side Saturday to buy shrimp for a cookout and wish two Texans a safe journey home to the Gulf coast, which was being pummeled by lingering rains after Hurricane Harvey.

— mike danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Elgin fishmongers face uncertain return to storm-ravaged Texas," 28 Aug. 2017
Any time a homeowner wishes to add something to common area or change it in any way, the best approach is to check first with the association – not afterward.

— kelly g. richardson, sandiegouniontribune.com, "HOA Homefront: It’s my balcony and my vine, right?," 26 Aug. 2017
With a smile, Bridges and Deputy Fire Marshall Todd Zupec wished students a good day at the elementary school.

— yadira sanchez olson, Lake County News-Sun, "Waukegan District 60 students get special welcome back to school," 24 Aug. 2017
But rather than wishing for a longer vacation, the change comes as something of a relief.

— emily richmond, The Atlantic, "Why School Still Starts After Labor Day in Michigan," 24 Aug. 2017
What has occurred in the American public political debate in the last week has been insane, and has shaken the confidence of everyone who wishes America well as to the mental stability and integrity of the American political class.

— conrad black, National Review, "Reviling Trump," 22 Aug. 2017
While the overthinking American depressive in me wishes this was a collective cultural response to the misogynist-in-chief currently running things, of course that’s silly.

— steve erickson, Los Angeles Magazine, "With Atomic Blonde, Charlize Theron Thrusts Another Dagger into Old Hollywood," 22 Aug. 2017
But was introducing literal faces in a bag too much information for a magic trick the show wishes to keep rather flexible?

— joanna robinson, vanityfair.com, "Game of Thrones: Okay, Seriously, How Does Arya’s Faceless Man Stuff Work?," 20 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of wish

Middle English wisshen, from Old English wȳscan; akin to Old High German wunsken to wish, Sanskrit vāñchati he wishes, vanoti he strives for — more at win

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

wish Synonyms

Synonyms

fob off, palm, palm off, pass off, foist

Related Words

entail, force, impose, inflict; counterfeit, fake, forge; distort, falsify, misrepresent

Synonym Discussion of wish

desire, wish, want, crave, covet mean to have a longing for. desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.

- desires to start a new life

wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.

- wishes for permanent world peace

want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.

- wants to have a family

crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.

- craves sweets

covet implies strong envious desire.

- covets his rise to fame

wish

noun

Definition of wish

1 a :an act or instance of wishing or desire :want

a wish to travel

b :an object of desire :goal

2 a :an expressed will or desire :mandate

b :a request or command couched as a wish

3 :an invocation of good or evil fortune on someone

See wish defined for English-language learners

Examples of wish in a Sentence

He has a wish to be reunited with his son.
The genie will grant you three wishes.
Send her my good wishes.

Recent Examples of wish from the Web

The international community stood helpless as the Chinese government ruthlessly shattered Liu Xiaobo’s last wish by denying his request to seek medical treatment abroad.

— jianli yang, National Review, "Liu Xiaobo’s Stern Warning," 15 Aug. 2017
In the master bedroom, the designer granted her client's wish for a glamorous cocoon, centered around a showstopping four-poster bed hand-painted in Italy with a faux-marble effect.

— kathryn o'shea-evans, House Beautiful, "This Navy Veteran's Home Salutes America's Favorite Hues," 27 July 2017
Fitzgerald got his wish, and Northwestern's games at Maryland and at home against Michigan State were moved to Saturdays.

— mike clark, Post-Tribune, "Clark: Big Ten coaches still debating concept of playing on Friday nights," 25 July 2017
That stance contrasts with the wishes of its House colleagues, who zeroed out the request.

— david malakoff, Science | AAAS, "Senate spending panel would squeeze science agencies but exceed Trump request," 25 July 2017
To be clear, an afternoon of smiles and well-wishes should not be considered anecdotal evidence that a wound is entirely healed.

— kevin acee, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Del Mar, where Chargers players met Chargers fans," 22 July 2017
Should Mr Macron get his wishes for institutional changes to the euro zone, its political heft could leave the gaggle of non-members looking like an afterthought.

— The Economist, "Emmanuel Macron is revitalising the European Union—and dividing it," 20 July 2017
Amazon encourages product discovery in many ways, including all those customized product lists on the site's homepage that are based on your search history and wish lists.

— valentina palladino, Ars Technica, "Amazon Spark is a product discovery social network that looks like Instagram," 19 July 2017
Macron fulfilled his wish to disrupt politics as usual with new faces — including a farmer, a teacher and a math genius — and a new approach.

— sylvie corbet, The Denver Post, "President Emmanuel Macron’s party dominates French parliamentary vote," 18 June 2017

First Known Use of wish

14th century

WISH Defined for English Language Learners

wish

play

verb

Definition of wish for English Language Learners

: to want (something) to be true or to happen
: to want or ask to do (something)
: to want (someone) to be in a particular state

wish

noun

Definition of wish for English Language Learners

: a desire for something to happen or be done : a feeling of wanting to do or have something
: an act of thinking about something that you want and hoping that you will get it or that it will happen in some magical way
wishes : good thoughts or feelings directed toward a person

WISH Defined for Kids

wish

play

verb \ ˈwish \

Definition of wish for Students

wished; wishing

1 :to have a desire for :want I wish you were here.

2 :to form or express a desire concerning

He wished them both good luck.

3 :to request by expressing a desire

I wish you to go now.

wish

noun

Definition of wish for Students

1 :an act or instance of having or expressing a desire usually in the mind

Close your eyes and make a wish.

2 :something wanted

I got my wish.

3 :a desire for happiness or luck

Send them my best wishes.

Learn More about wish

See words that rhyme with wish Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wish Spanish Central: Translation of wish Nglish: Translation of wish for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of wish for Arabic speakers

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Examples of wish in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of wish

wish Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of wish

wish

Definition of wish

Examples of wish in a Sentence

Recent Examples of wish from the Web

First Known Use of wish

WISH Defined for English Language Learners

wish

Definition of wish for English Language Learners

wish

Definition of wish for English Language Learners

WISH Defined for Kids

wish

Definition of wish for Students

wish

Definition of wish for Students

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