wish Definition
wish (wis̸h)
transitive verb
- to have a longing for; want; desire; crave
- to have or express a desire concerning to wish the day were over
- to have or express a desire concerning the fortune, circumstances, etc. of to wish someone good luck
- to give a (specified) greeting to; bid to wish a person good morning
- to request or order to wish a person to come
- to impose (something burdensome or unpleasant) on someone
Etymology: ME wisshen < OE wyscan, akin to Ger wünschen < IE base *wen-, to strive (for), desire > win, L Venus
intransitive verb
- to have a desire; long; yearn
- to make a wish
noun
- the act of wishing; felt or expressed desire for something
- something wished for to get one's wish
- a polite request with some of the force of an order
- expressed desire for a person's well-being, good fortune, etc. to offer one's best wishes
wish Related Forms
wish Synonyms
wish
n.
wish Synonyms
wish
v.
wish Usage Examples
Object
- everyone: Happy Christmas Just a quick message to wish everyone a Happy Christmas.
- someone: I just wish someone had been writing about them when I started!
Converse of object
- express: It has also clearly demonstrated its contempt for democracy through its willingness to ignore the democratically expressed wishes of the electorates in member states.
- reflect: We have been working hard to create a local service that reflects the wishes of patients and health care professionals.
- grant: They raised more than $ 40,000 in 18 months for the charity, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening diseases.
- respect: When he came to the throne in 1936 he respected the wish of Queen Victoria that no future king should ever be called Albert.
- indicate: The Green paper plea for integrity of official statistics indicates a wish by government statisticians to distance themselves from the statistics they produce.
Adjective modifier
- good: Best wishes, Ed I went to my first GA meeting today.
- parental: That means there must always be a real possibility of an outcome at variance with parental wishes.
- unconscious: Psychodynamics This is the theory that states that disturbances in early sexual or general development and unconscious wishes are at the heart of OCD.
- cherished: Like everybody ( including Cinderella ), I surely have three cherished wishes, which I want to write you about.
Modifies a noun
list: All you need to look at is the spec of this bike which would be on the wish list of any riders out there.
Noun used with modifier
birthday: Email your birthday wishes, best wishes, sympathy or get well wishes here.
Infinitive complement
- attend: You are advised to confirm any event which you may wish to attend, prior to making any long journeys.
- pursue: You must speak to the Head of Sixth Form if you wish to pursue this course of action.
- apply: The discount item must be selected directly below the item you wish to apply the discount.
- discuss: The Course Director may also be contacted at any time during office hours by students wishing to discuss matters relating to the course.
- join: All legal entities wishing to join The Forum must apply in their own right.
- receive: People visit the site to vote for the charities they wish to receive donations.
Preposition: of
electorate: It has also clearly demonstrated its contempt for democracy through its willingness to ignore the democratically expressed wishes of the electorates in member states.
Browse dictionary entries near wish
- wish fulfillment ›
- wish list ›
- wishbone ›
- wishful ›
- wishful thinking ›
- wishing ›
- wishy-washy ›
- Wisła ›
- wisp ›
- wist ›

