# wish

Pronunciation: US say "WISH" /wɪʃ/; UK

## Verb

1. To hope that something will happen or be true, including outcomes that are unlikely or impossible.
   - Simple: To hope something will happen or be true, even if it probably won't.
   - _They wish for an early spring every year, knowing February rarely obliges._
   - _He wished for his old strength back long after the injury ended his career._
2. To want or desire something, or to want to do something; often used as a more polite or formal alternative to 'want'.
   - Simple: To want something or want to do something. A polite, formal way of saying 'want'.
   - _Passengers who wish to upgrade their seats may speak with the gate agent._
   - _She wished to speak with the manager about the billing error._
4. To direct a kind thought or expression, such as good luck or congratulations, toward someone or something.
   - Simple: To send kind words or hopes to someone, like good luck or a happy birthday.
   - _The whole office wished him well on his last day._
   - _Fans lined the route to wish the runners luck at the starting line._

## Noun

3. A desire or hope to have something or for something to happen; also, the thing that is desired.
   - Simple: Something you want or hope for, or the feeling of wanting it.
   - _Her wish for a quieter life eventually led her to the countryside._
   - _Their wishes for the company's future rarely matched the board's plans._
5. A spoken or unspoken request for some desired outcome, often imagined as fulfilled through magic or supernatural power.
   - Simple: Words you say or think to ask for something to happen, often as if by magic.
   - _Tradition says a wish made on a shooting star must be kept secret._
   - _Visitors toss coins into the fountain, whispering wishes for luck and love._

## Verb

6. To commend someone to another person, seeking that person's trust or favor on their behalf. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To speak for someone so that another person will trust or help them.

## Other meanings

- (noun) A water meadow; an area of low grassland beside a river that is periodically flooded.

## Origin

From Middle English wisshen, from Old English wȳsċan ("to wish"), which traces back through Proto-Germanic *wunskijaną to the Proto-Indo-European root *wenh₁- ("to wish, love"). It is related to Dutch wensen, German wünschen, and Swedish önska.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/wish (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).