wished

/wɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɪʃt] /wɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɪʃt] /ˈwish How to pronounce wish (audio)/ (ame, mw)

wished — verb

  • wishedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • wisheds3rd person singular
  • wisheding-ing form
  • wishededpast simple

1. saying you are unhappy that the way things are right now is not the way you want

1.動詞及物A2
釋義

saying you are unhappy that the way things are right now is not the way you want them to be — used with a past-tense verb to talk about the present

例句

Fatima wishes she spoke better French so she could apply for the job.

wish + past simple for present ability

Kwame wishes his apartment had a bigger kitchen for cooking family meals.

同義詞
  • regret

    focuses on the feeling of sorrow, without the wishing element

  • long for

    emphasises deep emotional desire rather than dissatisfaction with reality

文法句型

wish + past simple clause

用法筆記

The past simple verb refers to the present, not the past. Distinguish from sense 2, where the past perfect refers to a real past event.

常見錯誤

❌I wish I am taller.
✅I wish I was taller.
💡after 'wish' for present situations, use the past simple, not the present simple.

2. feeling sad or sorry that something happened, or did not happen, at an earlier t

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

feeling sad or sorry that something happened, or did not happen, at an earlier time — used together with 'had' and a past participle

例句

Amir wishes he had studied medicine instead of law when he was at university.

wish + had + past participle for past regret

Mei wishes she had taken the train rather than driving through the fierce storm.

同義詞
  • regret

    more direct; takes a gerund ('regret doing'), not a clause with a new subject

  • rue

    literary and old-fashioned; implies deep sorrow about a past choice

文法句型

wish + had + past participle

用法筆記

The past perfect (had + past participle) refers to a real past event that cannot be changed. Distinguish from sense 1, where the past simple refers to the present.

常見錯誤

❌I wish I studied harder for the exam yesterday.
✅I wish I had studied harder for the exam yesterday.
💡when the event is in the past, use 'had' + past participle, not the past simple alone.

3. to feel a strong want for something, often something that is hard to get or that

3.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to feel a strong want for something, often something that is hard to get or that you hope will happen one day

例句

Zuri wishes to learn three new languages before she turns thirty.

wish + to-infinitive for personal ambition

The young artist wishes for nothing more than a quiet room to paint in.

同義詞
  • desire

    stronger and more intense; often used for romantic or passionate wants

  • want

    more everyday and direct; lacking the sense of longing or difficulty

反義詞
  • reject

    to refuse something offered or possible

文法句型

wish + to-infinitive

wish + for + noun

用法筆記

Often more formal than 'want.' 'Wish to' is common in polite requests; 'wish for' suggests a deeper, sometimes unattainable longing.

常見錯誤

❌I wish visiting Japan.
✅I wish to visit Japan.
💡after 'wish' meaning desire, use 'to' + infinitive or 'for' + noun, not a gerund.

4. used when you are annoyed or cross with what somebody is doing, followed by a cl

4.動詞及物B1
釋義

used when you are annoyed or cross with what somebody is doing, followed by a clause with 'would'

例句

Sofia wishes her neighbour would stop playing loud music after midnight.

wish + would for expressing irritation

The restaurant staff wish the customers would not leave such a mess behind.

同義詞
  • if only

    same meaning but more emphatic and can stand without a main clause

  • itch for

    informal; implies restless impatience rather than direct annoyance

文法句型

wish + would + infinitive

用法筆記

The subject of the 'would' clause must be someone or something other than the speaker. 'I wish I would' is not used.

常見錯誤

❌I wish I would stop smoking.
✅I wish I could stop smoking.
💡never use 'I wish I would'; use 'could' when the subject of the wish is also the speaker.

5. to tell someone you hope good things come their way — like happiness, health, or

5.動詞及物A2
釋義

to tell someone you hope good things come their way — like happiness, health, or luck — especially on a special day or when they start something new

例句

The whole team wished Mei good luck before her big presentation to the board.

wish + indirect object + direct object for well-wishing

Diego wished his daughter a happy birthday with a cake and twelve candles.

同義詞
  • bless

    carries a religious or spiritual weight; less casual than 'wish'

  • congratulate

    used after a success has happened; 'wish' is used before or during the occasion

文法句型

wish + someone + something (well, luck, happy birthday)

用法筆記

The direct object is often a fixed phrase: 'well,' 'luck,' 'a happy birthday,' 'a speedy recovery.' Compare with sense 8 (greetings), which is about daily welcomes like 'good morning.'

常見錯誤

❌I wish you to have a happy birthday.
✅I wish you a happy birthday.
💡the direct object follows the person directly; no 'to have' is needed.

6. to quietly hope in your heart that a person does well, reaches their goal, or fi

6.動詞及物B1
釋義

to quietly hope in your heart that a person does well, reaches their goal, or finds happiness in the future

例句

Siti quietly wishes for her son to do well in his first year of high school.

wish for + someone to succeed

Before the final race, the coach silently wished for the young swimmer to succeed.

同義詞
  • hope

    more general; 'wish' in this sense carries a warmer, more personal tone

  • root for

    informal; implies active cheering rather than quiet hope

文法句型

wish + someone + success / the best / victory

用法筆記

More about internal hope than spoken expression. Common objects: 'success,' 'the best,' 'victory.' Compare with sense 5, which is about spoken well-wishing on occasions.

7. to silently hope for something in your mind, believing that luck or magic might

7.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to silently hope for something in your mind, believing that luck or magic might make it come true

例句

Emeka closed his eyes and wished for a new bicycle as he blew out the candles.

wish for + noun: wishing for an object

The children tossed coins into the fountain and wished for good grades.

同義詞
  • hope

    'hope' focuses on realistic expectation; 'wish' in this sense involves belief in luck or magic

文法句型

wish for + noun

wish + that-clause

用法筆記

Often used when talking about birthday candles, shooting stars, wishing wells, and other traditions where people silently make a wish.

8. to say a set phrase to someone as a greeting, farewell, or polite acknowledgemen

8.動詞及物A2
釋義

to say a set phrase to someone as a greeting, farewell, or polite acknowledgement

例句

Mr. Okonkwo stood at the door and wished every student a good morning.

wish + someone + greeting formula

As the train pulled away, Kamala waved and wished her cousins farewell.

同義詞
  • bid

    'bid' is more formal and old-fashioned; 'wish' is the everyday choice

文法句型

wish + someone + something

用法筆記

The direct object is always a greeting or farewell phrase (good morning, goodnight, farewell, a pleasant evening). Distinguish from sense 5, which expresses hope for someone's wellbeing on a special occasion rather than a greeting.

9. to cause someone to have to deal with something difficult, painful, or unwanted

9.動詞及物B2
釋義

to cause someone to have to deal with something difficult, painful, or unwanted

例句

Jiang would not wish the pain of losing a child on his worst enemy.

wish + something unwanted + on + someone

Mei-Lin endured an exhausting shift and said she would not wish it on anyone.

同義詞
  • foist

    'foist' implies forcing something on someone by deception; 'wish' in this sense simply means to cause someone to experience something bad

文法句型

wish + something + on/upon + someone

用法筆記

Almost always used in negative contexts. The direct object is typically something painful or unwanted. Common in the phrase 'would not wish it on anyone.'

常見錯誤

❌I wish this job to you.
✅I wouldn't wish this job on anyone.
💡Sense 9 uses 'on/upon', not 'to', and describes conferring something unwanted.

10. to state politely but firmly that you want something or want something to happen

10.動詞及物B2
釋義

to state politely but firmly that you want something or want something to happen

例句

The passenger stepped forward and wished to speak to the station manager.

wish + to-infinitive for formal request

At the meeting, Diego wished to raise a question about the new budget.

同義詞
  • desire

    'desire' sounds more formal and old-fashioned; 'wish' is the standard polite choice in modern English

  • request

    'request' is more direct and transactional; 'wish' softens the demand and sounds less forceful

文法句型

wish + to-infinitive

wish + object + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Used in formal situations to state what you want. More polite and less direct than 'I want.' Common in official settings: meetings, legal contexts, and customer service.

常見錯誤

❌I wish to a glass of water.
✅I would like a glass of water.
💡'wish to' must be followed by a verb, not a noun. For requesting objects, use 'would like' or 'want.'

wished — noun