wish

I UK [wɪʃ] / US verb
Word forms "wish":
present tense I/you/we/they wish he/she/it wishes present participle wishing past tense wished past participle wished
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1)

a) [transitive] to want something to happen although it is unlikely

wish (that):

I wish I was rich!

Andy wished that he could think of a way of helping.

I wish Beth would stop interfering.

b) used for saying that you feel sorry or disappointed about something that you did or did not do

I wish I'd never come!

Now he wished that he had listened more carefully.

2) [intransitive/transitive] formal to want something, or to want to do something

You may have a look around, if you wish.

You can sit as close to the stage as you wish.

wish to do something:

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to discuss the matter.

3) [transitive] used for saying that you hope that someone enjoys something or that something good happens to them

wish someone a Happy Birthday/Merry Christmas etc:

May I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

wish someone luck/happiness/success:

I wish you every success.

•

not wish something on anybody/on your worst enemy — to not want something to happen to someone because it is very bad

It's such a disgusting task, I wouldn't wish it on anybody.

wish someone well/ill — to say that you hope good/bad things will happen to someone

The crowd wished them well as they left for their honeymoon.

- as you wish

- I wish

- you wish

Phrasal verbs:

- wish away

- wish for

II UK [wɪʃ] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "wish":
singular wish plural wishes
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1)

a) a feeling that you want something or want to do something

express a wish:

He'd expressed a wish to go there.

respect someone's wishes:

I have to respect the wishes of my client.

according to someone's wishes:

He was buried, according to his wishes, in a private ceremony.

b) the thing that you want to have or do

Our one wish is to complete this job thoroughly.

grant someone's wish (= give someone what they want):

So far we have been unable to grant her wish.

••

See:

death wish

2) something that you hope will happen by magic or by the power of your mind

make a wish (= think about what you want and hope that it will happen):

Make a wish and then blow out the candles.

•

(with) best wishes — a friendly and polite way of ending a letter or email

- have no wish to do something

- your wish is my command