wished
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
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
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.
The old wooden bridge wishes it could carry more weight, but it simply cannot.
inanimate subject + wish for personification
I wish the Sunday bus came more often in our part of town.
Do you ever wish you knew what your cat stares at all day long?
wish in question form
- wish desperately
- wish with all one's heart
- wish things were different
Grammar Patterns
wish + past simple clause
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
2. feeling sad or sorry that something happened, or did not happen, at an earlier t
feeling sad or sorry that something happened, or did not happen, at an earlier time — used together with 'had' and a past participle
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.
The company wishes it had invested in online sales five years earlier.
I wish I had told my grandmother how much she meant to me before she passed.
After the argument, Ananya wishes she had listened more carefully before she spoke.
wish + had + past participle with fronted time phrase
- wish someone had never
- wish with hindsight
Grammar Patterns
wish + had + past participle
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
3. to feel a strong want for something, often something that is hard to get or that
to feel a strong want for something, often something that is hard to get or that you hope will happen one day
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.
Do you ever wish to go back and relive a single day of your childhood?
Bintang wished for rain during the long dry months on his family farm.
Grace wishes to visit every national park before she turns forty years old.
- wish to speak
- wish to remain anonymous
- wish for peace
- wish for a miracle
- reject
to refuse something offered or possible
Grammar Patterns
wish + to-infinitive
wish + for + noun
Usage Note
Often more formal than 'want.' 'Wish to' is common in polite requests; 'wish for' suggests a deeper, sometimes unattainable longing.
Common Mistakes
4. used when you are annoyed or cross with what somebody is doing, followed by a cl
used when you are annoyed or cross with what somebody is doing, followed by a clause with 'would'
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.
Karim wishes his brother would knock before walking into his bedroom.
I wish you would listen to me just once instead of interrupting all the time.
The whole street wishes the construction crew would finish the road work soon.
wish + would with collective subject
- wish someone would stop
- wish someone would hurry up
- wish someone would leave
Grammar Patterns
wish + would + infinitive
Usage Note
The subject of the 'would' clause must be someone or something other than the speaker. 'I wish I would' is not used.
Common Mistakes
5. to tell someone you hope good things come their way — like happiness, health, or
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
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.
The whole village wished the young couple well on their wedding day.
Rivka's colleagues wished her a speedy recovery after the operation.
We all wish you and your family a safe and peaceful new year ahead.
wish + someone + extended object phrase
- wish someone well
- wish someone luck
- wish someone a happy birthday
- wish someone a speedy recovery
- 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
Grammar Patterns
wish + someone + something (well, luck, happy birthday)
Usage Note
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.'
Common Mistakes
6. to quietly hope in your heart that a person does well, reaches their goal, or fi
to quietly hope in your heart that a person does well, reaches their goal, or finds happiness in the future
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.
Deepa wishes in her heart that her best friend will find happiness again.
Wen thought of the new business owners and silently wished for their success.
I just wish him the best, even after everything that happened between us.
- wish someone success
- wish someone the best
- wish someone victory
Grammar Patterns
wish + someone + success / the best / victory
Usage Note
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
to silently hope for something in your mind, believing that luck or magic might make it come true
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.
Farid looked at the night sky and wished he could visit his grandmother in Beirut.
wish + that-clause for magical hope
Nalini held the wishbone tightly and wished for a trip to Seoul.
Before opening her eyes, Ayumi wished for the courage to speak in front of the class.
- wish upon a star
- make a wish
- wish for something
- hope
'hope' focuses on realistic expectation; 'wish' in this sense involves belief in luck or magic
Grammar Patterns
wish for + noun
wish + that-clause
Usage Note
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
to say a set phrase to someone as a greeting, farewell, or polite acknowledgement
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.
The manager stopped by each table to wish the guests a pleasant evening.
Before hanging up, Thandi wished her grandmother goodnight and sweet dreams.
wish + someone + something: common in bedtime and farewell routines
The sailors gathered on deck to wish their captain farewell before the long voyage.
- wish someone good morning
- wish someone farewell
- wish someone goodnight
- bid
'bid' is more formal and old-fashioned; 'wish' is the everyday choice
Grammar Patterns
wish + someone + something
Usage Note
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
to cause someone to have to deal with something difficult, painful, or unwanted
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.
The judge wished a lifetime of guilt upon the man who had destroyed so many lives.
Growing up in a war zone is something Fatima would never wish upon another child.
would never wish + something + upon + someone
The villagers believed the old woman had wished a curse upon the crops.
- wouldn't wish it on anyone
- wish something upon someone
- would never wish on
- foist
'foist' implies forcing something on someone by deception; 'wish' in this sense simply means to cause someone to experience something bad
Grammar Patterns
wish + something + on/upon + someone
Usage Note
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.'
Common Mistakes
10. to state politely but firmly that you want something or want something to happen
to state politely but firmly that you want something or want something to happen
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.
The lawyer wished it to be noted that her client had cooperated fully.
wish + object + to-infinitive: formal declaration
Hannah called the shop and wished to return the damaged lamp she had received.
The villagers wished the council to reconsider the decision about the new road.
- wish to speak
- wish to report
- wish to make a complaint
Grammar Patterns
wish + to-infinitive
wish + object + to-infinitive
Usage Note
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.
Common Mistakes
wished — noun
1. the feeling you have when you want a particular thing to happen or to be yours
the feeling you have when you want a particular thing to happen or to be yours
Stefan's one wish was to find a quiet flat near the sea.
wish + to-infinitive for expressing a desire
Lakan had a sudden wish to phone family back in Manila.
Ife had no wish to argue about money at the dinner table.
have no wish to + verb for expressing reluctance
Ezra looked at the old guitar with a quiet wish to play it again.
The wish for cooler weather grew stronger as July dragged on.
- a strong wish
- have no wish to
- a death wish
- against someone's wishes
Grammar Patterns
wish + to-infinitive
have no wish to + verb
Common Mistakes
2. a short message telling someone you hope they will be happy or lucky, often writ
a short message telling someone you hope they will be happy or lucky, often written when closing a card or letter
Jin closed the letter with warm wishes for the New Year.
warm wishes — a common collocation for goodwill
The card from Karim's grandmother was full of kind wishes.
Mateo sent his best wishes to the couple on their wedding day.
send + best wishes + to — the standard pattern
Please give my good wishes to your parents when you see them.
Felipe received wishes for a quick recovery from the whole office.
- best wishes
- good wishes
- warm wishes
- send wishes
Grammar Patterns
best wishes
good wishes
send + wishes + to + person
Usage Note
Almost always plural. The singular 'wish' in this sense is rare and sounds unnatural to most speakers.
Common Mistakes
3. a secret hope that you believe can come true through magic — the kind people mak
a secret hope that you believe can come true through magic — the kind people make on birthday candles or shooting stars
Kabir blew out the candles and made a wish for a new bicycle.
make a wish — the act of expressing a magical hope
Zayd closed both eyes tight and whispered a wish to the shooting star.
In the old tale, the fairy granted Ilan three wishes before midnight.
grant a wish — when magic makes the hope real
Nicholas tossed a coin into the fountain and made a silent wish.
- make a wish
- grant a wish
- a wish comes true
Grammar Patterns
make a wish
grant a wish
wish + come true
Usage Note
Most often appears in the phrase 'make a wish'. The verb 'grant' is the typical partner for fulfilling magical wishes.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/3
'Wish' (verb sense 3: DESIRE; WANT) expresses a strong want, often for something hard to get. 'Want' is the most everyday, direct word — 'I want coffee' is neutral, while 'I wish for coffee' sounds more wistful or formal. 'Desire' is stronger and more intense than 'wish'; it often carries romantic or passionate weight and appears in more formal settings ('The committee desires a full report'). 'Hope' differs from all of these because it focuses on expectation and possibility, not just wanting — you hope for things you think might actually happen ('I hope the bus comes soon'), but you wish for things that may be unlikely or impossible ('I wish I could fly'). 'Long for' emphasises deep, patient yearning over time, often for something distant or lost ('She longed for the mountains of her childhood'). 'Yearn for' is similar but even more intense — almost painful in its wanting ('He yearned for a letter that never came'). For Taiwanese learners: when you want something in daily life, use 'want.' When you feel a deeper, harder-to-reach longing, use 'wish' or 'long for.' When you believe the thing might actually happen, use 'hope.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- wish list
- death wish
- wish fulfilment
Adverbs
- sincerely wish
- really wish
- just wish
- secretly wish
Phrases
- make a wish
- wishful thinking
- grant a wish
- if wishes were horses
Prepositions
- wish for
- wish upon
Etymology
Comes from Old English 'wȳscan', meaning 'to wish or desire.' It shares a common ancestor with German 'wünschen' and Dutch 'wensen', all going back to a Proto-Germanic root that expressed the idea of wanting or striving for something. The noun form developed from the verb in early English.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun