wished; wishing; wishes
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
1
: to have a desire : want
wishing for more
2
: to make a wish
wish on a falling star
wisher
noun
Examples of wish in a Sentence
Verb
You may use the telephone, if you wish.
She wished them a happy New Year.
We wish you a Merry Christmas.
Noun
He has a wish to be reunited with his son.
The genie will grant you three wishes.
Send her my good wishes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
According to inside sources, Prince William wishes to establish a meaningful relationship with Mullally, knowing that the Archbishop will also preside over his future coronation and will, in fact, be his superior in the Church.
—Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 27 Mar. 2026
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
The only existing version of the 1942 Orson Welles family drama was famously cut down and reshot by RKO against the director’s wishes, with more than an hour of unseen footage eventually destroyed.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wish
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Her donor, John, wishes to remain anonymous to the public so asked that his last name not be used, but has become like family to her.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
According to inside sources, Prince William wishes to establish a meaningful relationship with Mullally, knowing that the Archbishop will also preside over his future coronation and will, in fact, be his superior in the Church.
—Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
The election of the reformist former President Mohammad Khatami in 1997, for instance, was an expression of the popular will and explicitly against the wishes of Ali Khamenei, but he was still allowed to take the presidency.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
The only existing version of the 1942 Orson Welles family drama was famously cut down and reshot by RKO against the director’s wishes, with more than an hour of unseen footage eventually destroyed.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wish
Cite this Entry
“Wish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wish. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wish
2 of 2 noun1
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
