wish
verb/wɪʃ/
/wɪʃ/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they wish | /wɪʃ/ /wɪʃ/ |
| he / she / it wishes | /ˈwɪʃɪz/ /ˈwɪʃɪz/ |
| past simple wished | /wɪʃt/ /wɪʃt/ |
| past participle wished | /wɪʃt/ /wɪʃt/ |
| -ing form wishing | /ˈwɪʃɪŋ/ /ˈwɪʃɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] (not usually used in the present progressive tense) to want something to happen or to be true even though it is unlikely or impossible
- wish (that)… I wish I were taller.
- (British English also) I wish I was taller.
- I wish I hadn't eaten so much.
- ‘Where is he now?’ ‘I only wish I knew!’
- I wish you wouldn't leave your clothes all over the floor.
- She really wished she’d stayed on at college.
- He sat by the phone, wishing it would ring. ‘That’ is nearly always left out, especially in speech.
- wish somebody/something/yourself + adj. He's dead and it's no use wishing him alive again.
- wish somebody/something/yourself + adv./prep. She wished herself a million miles away.
Grammar Point wishwish- After the verb wish in sense 1, a past tense is always used in a that clause:
- Do you wish (that) you had a better job?
- I wish he were here tonight.
Extra Examples- I heartily wished that I had stayed at home.
- I really wish I could go to America.
- When I see the kids playing football, I almost wish I was their age again.
- I only wish I had more time for research.
- I just wish they were here to see me now.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- dearly
- desperately
- devoutly
- …
- for
- [intransitive, transitive] (especially British English, formal) to want to do something; to want something to happen
- You may stay until morning, if you wish.
- ‘I’d rather not talk now.’ ‘(Just) as you wish.’
- wish to do something This course is designed for people wishing to update their computer skills.
- I wish to speak to the manager.
- I don't wish (= I don't mean) to be rude, but could you be a little quieter?
- wish somebody something She could not believe that he wished her harm.
- wish somebody/something to do something He was not sure whether he wished her to stay or go.
Extra Examples- He did not wish it to be known that he was buying a present for his father.
- I wish to thank my production team for all their support.
- An employee, who wished to remain anonymous, gave details of the secret deal.
- I also wish to express my gratitude to my colleagues.
- They had an opportunity to sign up if they wished to participate.
- There will be special fees for residents who wish to use the facilities.
- Any farmers wishing to join the scheme should contact Kathryn Payne.
- I never wish to see such horrific scenes again.
- The final point I wish to make is about funding.
- You can dance all night if you so wish.
More Like This Verbs usually followed by infinitivesVerbs usually followed by infinitives - [intransitive] to think very hard that you want something, especially something that can only be achieved by good luck or magic
- If you wish really hard, maybe you'll get what you want.
- wish for something It's no use wishing for the impossible.
- He has everything he could possibly wish for.
- We couldn't have wished for a nicer hotel (= the hotel was exactly what we wanted).
- wish for somebody/something to do something She shut her eyes and wished for him to get better.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- dearly
- desperately
- devoutly
- …
- for
- [transitive] to say that you hope that somebody will be happy, lucky, etc.
- wish somebody something I wished her a happy birthday.
- Wish me luck!
- wish somebody well We wish them both well in their retirement.
Extra Examples- We wish you every success.
- I sincerely wish him well in his future.
- We wish him a speedy recovery.
Word OriginOld English wȳscan, of Germanic origin; related to German wünschen, also to wont.
Idioms
See wish in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee wish in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishI/you wish!
- (informal) used to say that something is impossible or very unlikely, although you wish it were possible synonym if only
- ‘You'll have finished by tomorrow.’ ‘I wish!’
- A job at the BBC? You wish!
Check pronunciation:
wish