wish

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 (not usually used in the present progressive tense) to want sth to happen or to be true even though it is unlikely or impossible: [V(that)] I wish I were taller. * (BrE 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. HELPNOTE 'That' is nearly always left out, especially in speech. [VN-ADJ] He's dead and it's no use wishing him alive again. * [VN+adv./prep.] She wished herself a million miles away. 2 (especially BrE, formal) to want to do sth; to want sth to happen: [V] You may stay until morning, if you wish. * 'I'd rather not talk now.' '(Just) as you wish.' * [Vtoinf] 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? * [VNN] She could not believe that he wished her harm. * [VNtoinf] He was not sure whether he wished her to stay or go. 3 [V] ~ (for sth) to think very hard that you want sth, especially sth that can only be achieved by good luck or magic: She shut her eyes and wished for him to get better. * If you wish really hard, maybe you'll get what you want. * It's no use wishing for the impossible. * He has everything he could possibly wish for. 4 to say that you hope that sb will be happy, lucky, etc: [VNN] I wished her a happy birthday. * Wish me luck! * [VN] We wish them both well in their retirement. IDIOMS I wish! (spoken) used to say that sth is impossible or very unlikely, although you wish it were possible SYNIFONLY: 'You'll have finished by tomorrow.' 'I wish!' PHRASALVERBS wish sth away to try to get rid of sth by wishing it did not exist wish sb/sth on sb (informal) (used in negative sentences) to want sb to have sth unpleasant: I wouldn't wish something like that on my worst enemy. * It's not a job I'd wish on anybody. noun 1 [C] ~ (to do sth)