wish
/wɪʃ/
1 transitive (not usually used in the present progressive tense) to want something to happen or to be true even though it is unlikely or impossible wish (that)…
I wish I were taller.
(British English also) I wish I was taller.
I wish I hadn't eaten so much.
‘Where is he now?’ ‘I only wish I knew!’
I wish you wouldn't leave your clothes all over the floor.
She really wished she’d stayed on at college.
He sat by the phone, wishing it would ring.
wish somebody/something/yourself + adj.
He's dead and it's no use wishing him alive again.
wish somebody/something/yourself + adv./prep.
She wished herself a million miles away.
Collocations
adverb
preposition
You may stay until morning, if you wish.
‘I’d rather not talk now.’ ‘(Just) as you wish.’
wish to do something
This course is designed for people wishing to update their computer skills.
I wish to speak to the manager.
I don't wish (= I don't mean) to be rude, but could you be a little quieter?
wish somebody something
She could not believe that he wished her harm.
wish somebody/something to do something
He was not sure whether he wished her to stay or go.
3 intransitive to think very hard that you want something, especially something that can only be achieved by good luck or magic If you wish really hard, maybe you'll get what you want.
wish for something
It's no use wishing for the impossible.
He has everything he could possibly wish for.
We couldn't have wished for a nicer hotel (= the hotel was exactly what we wanted).
wish for somebody/something to do something
She shut her eyes and wished for him to get better.
4 transitive to say that you hope that somebody will be happy, lucky, etc. wish somebody something
I wished her a happy birthday.
Wish me luck!
wish somebody well
We wish them both well in their retirement.
wish noun
/wɪʃ/
1 wishes plural used especially in a letter, email or card to say that you hope that somebody will be happy, well or successful Give my good wishes to the family.
wish for something
We all send our best wishes for the future.
With best wishes (= for example, at the end of a letter)
Collocations
adjective
verb + wish
preposition
2 countable an attempt to make something happen by thinking hard about it, especially in stories when it often happens by magic Throw some money in the fountain and make a wish.
The genie granted him three wishes.
The prince's wish came true.
3 countable a desire or a feeling that you want to do something or have something wish to do something
She expressed a wish to be alone.
He had no wish to start a fight.
His dearest wish (= what he wants most of all) is to see his grandchildren again.
wish for something
I can understand her wish for secrecy.
wish that…
It was her dying wish that I should have it.
4 countable a thing that you want to have or to happen He refused to carry out her wishes.
I'm sure that you will get your wish.
against somebody's wishes
She married against her parents' wishes.
Idioms
Word Origin