Library / English Dictionary

WISH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The particular preference that you have

Example:

they should respect the wishes of the people

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("wish" is a kind of...):

druthers; preference (the right or chance to choose)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(usually plural) a polite expression of desire for someone's welfare

Example:

my best wishes

Synonyms:

compliments; regard; wish

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("wish" is a kind of...):

greeting; salutation ((usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting))

Domain usage:

plural; plural form (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)

Derivation:

wish (invoke upon)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An expression of some desire or inclination

Example:

his crying was an indirect request for attention

Synonyms:

indirect request; wish

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("wish" is a kind of...):

asking; request (the verbal act of requesting)

Derivation:

wish (make or express a wish)

wish (hope for; have a wish)

wish (feel or express a desire or hope concerning the future or fortune of)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A specific feeling of desire

Example:

he was above all wishing and desire

Synonyms:

want; wish; wishing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("wish" is a kind of...):

desire (the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "wish"):

velleity (a mere wish, unaccompanied by effort to obtain)

Derivation:

wish (make or express a wish)

wish (hope for; have a wish)

wish (feel or express a desire or hope concerning the future or fortune of)

wish (prefer or wish to do something)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Invoke upon

Example:

bid farewell

Synonyms:

bid; wish

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "wish" is one way to...):

greet; recognise; recognize (express greetings upon meeting someone)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "wish"):

congratulate; felicitate (express congratulations)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Derivation:

wish ((usually plural) a polite expression of desire for someone's welfare)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Order politely; express a wish for

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "wish" is one way to...):

order (make a request for something)

Verb group:

wish (make or express a wish)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make or express a wish

Example:

I wish that Christmas were over

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "wish" is one way to...):

express; give tongue to; utter; verbalise; verbalize (articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise)

Verb group:

wish (order politely; express a wish for)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

wish (a specific feeling of desire)

wish (an expression of some desire or inclination)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Hope for; have a wish

Example:

I wish I could go home now

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "wish" is one way to...):

desire; want (feel or have a desire for; want strongly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "wish"):

desire; hope; trust (expect and wish)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They wish him to write the letter

Derivation:

wish (an expression of some desire or inclination)

wish; wishing (a specific feeling of desire)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Feel or express a desire or hope concerning the future or fortune of

Synonyms:

wish; wish well

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "wish" is one way to...):

desire; want (feel or have a desire for; want strongly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody something

Antonym:

begrudge (wish ill or allow unwillingly)

Derivation:

wish (an expression of some desire or inclination)

wish (a specific feeling of desire)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Prefer or wish to do something

Example:

Would you like to come along to the movies?

Synonyms:

care; like; wish

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "wish" is one way to...):

desire; want (feel or have a desire for; want strongly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "wish"):

please (be the will of or have the will (to))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence examples:

They wish him to write the letter

They wish to move

Derivation:

wish (a specific feeling of desire)

Credits

 Context examples: 

I wish you had saved yourself this walk home.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

But what is it you wish?

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Wife, wife, said the man, why should we wish to be the king?

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

How I wish I was going to college!

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He wished Ruth was there to share in his joy, and when he went over the letters left lying on his bed, he found one from her.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I trust you will find all you wish.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

It would have been hard to let them down if it had been wished, so dense was the crowd around them.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Allow me to wish you many happy returns.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

We have far less control over our weight than we might wish to think.

(Slim people have a genetic advantage when it comes to maintaining their weight, University of Cambridge)

Women who are concerned they may not be getting enough iodine may wish to consult their physicians before making dietary changes or taking supplements.

(Iodine deficiency may reduce pregnancy chances, National Institutes of Health)