wish

[[t]wɪ̱ʃ[/t]]

♦♦

wishes, wishing, wished

1) N-COUNT: oft with poss A wish is a desire or strong feeling that you want to have something or do something.

→ See also death wish

She was sincere and genuine in her wish to make amends for the past...

Clearly she had no wish for conversation...

She wanted to go everywhere in the world. She soon got her wish...

The decision was made against the wishes of the party leader.

Syn:

desire

2) VERB If you wish to do something or to have it done for you, you want to do it or have it done. [FORMAL]

[V to-inf] If you wish to go away for the weekend, our office will be delighted to make hotel reservations...

[V to-inf] We can dress as we wish now...

[V for n] There were the collaborators, who wished for a German victory.

3) VERB: with brd-neg (politeness) Wish is used in expressions such as I don't wish to be rude or without wishing to be rude as a way of apologizing or warning someone when you are going to say something which might upset, annoy, or worry them.

[V to-inf] I don't wish to sound callous, but I am glad I wasn't here...

[V to-inf] Without wishing to be unkind, she's not the most interesting company.

4) VERB: no cont If you wish something were true, you would like it to be true, even though you know that it is impossible or unlikely.

[V that] I wish I could do that...

[V that] I wish it weren't true...

[V that] Pa, I wish you wouldn't shout...

[V n to-inf] The world is not always what we wish it to be.

5) VERB If you wish for something, you express the desire for that thing silently to yourself. In fairy stories, when a person wishes for something, the thing they wish for often happens by magic.

[V for n] We have all wished for men who are more like women...

[V for n] A philosopher once said, `Be careful what you wish for; you might get it.'

N-COUNT

Wish is also a noun.

The custom is for people to try and eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight. Those who are successful can make a wish.

6) VERB: no cont, usu with brd-neg (feelings) Wish is used in sentences such as I could not wish for anything better to indicate that you are very pleased with what you have and could not imagine anything better.

[V for n] I really could not have wished for a better teacher...

[V for n] Who could wish for a better opportunity?

Syn:

ask

7) VERB: no cont, with brd-neg If you say that you would not wish a particular thing on someone, you mean that the thing is so unpleasant that you would not want them to be forced to experience it.

[V n on n] It's a horrid experience and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

8) VERB If you wish someone something such as luck or happiness, you express the hope that they will be lucky or happy.

[V n n] I wish you both a very good journey...

[V n adv] Goodbye, Hanu. I wish you well.

9) N-PLURAL: adj N (politeness) If you express your good wishes towards someone, you are politely expressing your friendly feelings towards them and your hope that they will be successful or happy.

I found George's story very sad. Please give him my best wishes...

Western leaders sent good wishes to the new American president.