wish
/wɪʃ/ verb A2- To desire; to want. · I'll come tomorrow, if you wish (it).· I wish it to be known that I wish them all to leave the company.
- To hope (for a particular outcome), even if that outcome is unlikely to occur or cannot occur. · I wish I could go back in time and teach myself what I know now.· I wished (that) it would rain.
- To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something). · I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.
- To request or desire to do an activity. · Anyone who wishes to may leave now.
- To recommend; to seek confidence or favour on behalf of.
Plural wish · He/she/it wishes · Past wished · Past participle wished · -ing form wishing
Verb forms
- Base form
- wish
- He/she/it
- wishes
- Past
- wished
- Past participle
- wished
- -ing form
- wishing
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
I wish you were down here with me!
Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope!
Tell me that first, and then, if I like being that person, I’ll come up: if not, I’ll stay down here till I’m somebody else’—but, oh dear!” cried Alice, with a sudden burst of tears, “I do wish they _would_ put their heads down!
“I wish I hadn’t cried so much!” said Alice, as she swam about, trying to find her way out.
Other matches
Learn wish in real texts
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