wish
A2Neutral; suitable for all registers from casual to formal depending on construction.
Definition
Meaning
To have a strong, often unattainable, desire for something, or to express a hope.
Can also function as a polite expression of a request or intention, or a formal greeting for a situation (e.g., best wishes).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Wish" often expresses a desire for something that is counterfactual, impossible, or unlikely, differentiating it from the more hopeful "want" or "hope."
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences in core usage. The idiom "wish you the best" is slightly more common in AmE; "send one's best wishes" is equally common.
Connotations
Equally neutral.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
wish + for + NP (I wish for happiness)wish + (that) + clause [past tense for present/future counterfactual] (I wish I knew)wish + NP + NP (I wish you luck)wish + to-infinitive (I wish to leave)wish + NP + adjective (I wish him safe)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The wish is father to the thought”
- “wish upon a star”
- “wishful thinking”
- “if wishes were horses, beggars would ride”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in formal closings (e.g., 'We wish you success in your new venture') and polite requests ('I wish to discuss the contract').
Academic
Used in speculative or counterfactual reasoning ('One might wish for a simpler model').
Everyday
Ubiquitous for expressing desires, hopes, and greetings ('Make a wish!' 'Best wishes for your birthday').
Technical
Rare; may appear in speculative or goal-oriented contexts in fields like AI ('The agent wishes to maximise its reward').
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- His greatest wish is to visit the Himalayas.
- Make a wish before you blow out the candles.
- Send her my best wishes.
American English
- My wish list is very long.
- Her final wish was carried out.
- With best wishes for the holiday season.
verb
British English
- I wish it would stop raining.
- She wished him a speedy recovery.
- Do you wish to proceed?
American English
- I wish I had a bigger apartment.
- We wish you a Merry Christmas!
- He wishes for a new job.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I wish you a happy birthday.
- I wish for a new bike.
- Make a wish!
- I wish I could speak French.
- They wished us a pleasant journey.
- Her wish came true.
- I wish you hadn't told him; now he's upset.
- He left the company, against the wishes of his manager.
- It was a classic case of wishful thinking.
- I fervently wish that the negotiations will yield a positive outcome.
- The policy was enacted in direct contravention of the electorate's expressed wishes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
WISH sounds like 'whisk' – imagine whisking away reality to get what you WISH for.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESIRE IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'I wish my way to a better future'), or DESIRE IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (e.g., 'I was wishing so hard').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using "wish" for direct, realistic wants – use "want." (Не 'I wish a coffee', а 'I want a coffee').
- "I wish" + past tense (I wish I knew) translates to conditional/subjunctive in Russian (Если бы я знал).
- Confusion with "to congratulate". "Wish" expresses hope for the future, while "congratulate" acknowledges a past achievement.
Common Mistakes
- Using present tense in counterfactual clauses: *'I wish I know' instead of 'I wish I knew'.
- Using 'to' incorrectly: *'I wish to have a car' is grammatically correct but often sounds formal; 'I wish I had a car' is more natural for an unattainable desire.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence correctly uses 'wish' to express a present regret?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
"Hope" expresses a desire for something possible or likely. "Wish" often expresses a desire for something impossible, unlikely, or counterfactual. (I hope it's sunny tomorrow. / I wish I were taller).
The past tense (or past subjunctive 'were') signals that the wish is contrary to present fact. It's a grammatical marker of counterfactuality, not a reference to past time.
No. It can be used for polite requests ('I wish to speak to the manager'), formal greetings ('With best wishes'), and realistic but strong desires ('I wish for world peace'), though the counterfactual use is most distinct.
Rarely and only in specific contexts, like making a formal or emphatic request about the future ('I wish you will reconsider'). For future desires, 'I hope' or 'I wish + would' (for willingness/annoyance) is more common.
Collections
Part of a collection
Emotions and Feelings
A2 · 33 words · Words to describe how you feel.