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
The only hope is to have a home with a few animals in some place not worth a bomb.
—
Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
That left an automatic bid as their only hope: To earn a March Madness berth, N.C.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
The show focused on James St. Patrick (played by Omari Hardwick), a drug dealer nicknamed Ghost whose only wish was to leave the world of crime behind and become a legitimate businessman.
—Damien Scott, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024
But now the Memphis transfer can only hope to make the most of it.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Hollywood has surmised that audiences only want to go to the movies for films that feel less like generic screenings and more like cultural happenings.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024
So as the only hope, Alice shifted to … the queen of hearts!
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
Doctors told her that her only hope of getting better would be by attempting to expand her lung capacity through exercise.
—Alex Gurley, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024
The only hope is young Alam, Mallikajaan’s youngest daughter.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Feb. 2024
Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
That left an automatic bid as their only hope: To earn a March Madness berth, N.C.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
The show focused on James St. Patrick (played by Omari Hardwick), a drug dealer nicknamed Ghost whose only wish was to leave the world of crime behind and become a legitimate businessman.
—Damien Scott, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024
But now the Memphis transfer can only hope to make the most of it.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Hollywood has surmised that audiences only want to go to the movies for films that feel less like generic screenings and more like cultural happenings.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024
So as the only hope, Alice shifted to … the queen of hearts!
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
Doctors told her that her only hope of getting better would be by attempting to expand her lung capacity through exercise.
—Alex Gurley, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024
The only hope is young Alam, Mallikajaan’s youngest daughter.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'only wish/want/hope.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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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 Apr. 2024.
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