wish

verb

ˈwish 

wished; wishing; wishes

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

Synonyms of wish

• impose
• inflict

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Admirers of Lean’s superb 1940s Dickens adaptations, Great Expectations and Oliver Twist, might wish Thompson had lingered longer over them. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026

Vanity Fair published an article in September 2024 arguing that assistants have no choice but to go through with their bosses’ wishes, regardless of their personal ethics. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 May 2026

Officials said that anyone wishing to report mosquitoes or breeding sources in Ventura County should call the mosquito complaint hotline at 805-658-4310. —Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 27 May 2026

Others, like Franklin, wished for a new kind of empire, one in which justice prevailed. —Literary Hub, 26 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing wish

• (be) careful what you wish for
• death wish
• (don't) I wish
• (don't) you wish
• dying wish
• get one's wish
• have no wish
• make a wish
• only wish/want/hope
• pious hope/wish
• someone's wish comes true
• someone's wish is my command
• wish away
• wish fulfillment
• wish list
• wish (someone) luck
• wish (someone or something) on (someone)
• wish someone well
• wish-wash

Rhymes for wish

• dish
• lish
• swish
• bluefish
• catfish
• codfish
• crawfish
• dogfish
• finfish
• flatfish
• goldfish
• groundfish

Kids Definition

wish

1 of 2 verb

ˈwish 

1

: to have a desire : long for : want

wish you were here

wish for a puppy

2

: to form or express a desire concerning

wished them a happy New Year

3

: to request by expressing a desire

I wish you to go now

wisher noun

wish

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: an act or instance of wishing or desire

a wish to travel

b

: an object of desire : goal

I got my wish—a good score on the test

2

: a wishing of good fortune

sends her best wishes