wish
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++wish1 /wɪʃ/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 [intransitive, transitive] formalWANT if you wish to do something or you wish to have it done for you, you want to do it or want to have it done 想做（某事）；想要 SYN likewish to do something I wish to make a complaint. 我要投诉。 If you wish to discuss this matter further please do not hesitate to contact me. 如果你想进一步讨论此事，请尽管和我联系。 You may leave now, if you wish. 如果你想走，现在就可以走了。(just) as you wish (=used in formal situations to tell someone you will do what they want) 如你所愿〔告诉某人会按其意思做事〕 ‘I’d like it to be ready by six.’ ‘Just as you wish, sir.’ “我希望6点之前准备好。”“听您的，先生。” The cook will prepare whatever you wish. 你想吃什么厨师就会给你做什么。 RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say want rather than wish: 在日常英语中，人们一般说want，而不说wishI want to see the manager. 我要见经理。You can go, if you want. 你想去就可以去。2 [transitive]WANT to want something to be true although you know it is either impossible or unlikely 希望〔不可能或可能性很小的事成为现实〕 → if onlywish (that) I wish I didn’t have to go to work today. 如果我今天不用上班就好了。 I wish that I could afford a new car. 我要是有钱买辆新车就好了。 He wished Emily were with him. 他真希望埃米莉陪着他。 Sometimes I wish I had never been born. 有时候我倒希望自己没有生出来。5 GRAMMAR 语法• When talking about things that you would like to happen or be true, use wish and the past tense, or wish and would or could. 谈论希望发生或属实的事，可以用wish加过去时，或者用wish加would或couldI wish I lived in New York.我希望自己住在纽约。• In British English, you can either say ‘I wish I was’ or ‘I wish I were’, which is rather formal. In American English, you should use were. 英国英语中可以说I wish I was或I wish I were，后者比较正式。美国英语中应该用wereI wish they would explain things better.我希望他们把事情解释得更清楚。• When talking about things that you would like to have happened, use wish and the past perfect tense. 表示希望某些事情已经发生，用wish加过去完成时I wish I were ten years younger.我真希望自己年轻十岁。I wish I had paid more attention in class.我真希望我以前上课时听讲更认真些。n GRAMMAR: Patterns with wish• You wish that you could do something: I wish I could speak Spanish. ✗Don’t say: I wish I can speak Spanish. • You wish that something would happen: I wish it would stop raining.I wish you wouldn’t do that.• You wish that you had done something: I wish I had paid more attention in class. 我真希望我以前上课时听讲更认真些。She wished she hadn’t said that she was bored.• You wish that you could have done something: I wish I could have seen his face!• In everyday spoken English, you say I wish I was: I wish I was back home in Hong Kong.• In more formal English, especially in American English, you use I wish I were: I wish I were back home in Hong Kong.• I wish I were is often used when talking about things that are impossible: I wish I were you! I wish I were younger.3 [transitive]HAPPY to say that you hope someone will have good luck, a happy life etc 祝，祝愿〔某人好运、幸福等〕4 I couldn’t wish for a nicer/better etc ... (also the nicest/best etc ... I could have wished for)GOOD/EXCELLENT used to emphasize that you are very happy with what you have and cannot imagine anyone or anything better 我不能再奢求更好的…；我想要的最好的…5 I wish (that) somebody would do something spoken used to say that you find someone’s behaviour annoying and want them to change 我真希望某人能做某事〔指改变令人讨厌的习惯〕6 [intransitive]7 I wish! spokenWANT used to say that something is not true, but you wish it was 但愿如此！8 you wish! spoken used to tell someone that what they want to happen or be true will definitely not happen or become true 你做梦吧！9 wouldn’t wish something on/upon somebody spokenUNPLEASANT used to say that something is very unpleasant and that you would not like anyone to have to experience it 不想某事发生在某人身上10 I don’t wish to interfere/be nosy etc British English spoken formalSORRY/APOLOGIZE used to show you are sorry if what you are going to say upsets or annoys someone 我并不想干涉/多管闲事等〔表示如要说的话令某人不安或不快，则致歉在先〕11 I (only) wish I knew British English spokenNOT KNOW used to emphasize that you do not know something, and you wish you did know 我知道就好了〔用于强调不知道某事〕12 wish something ↔ away phrasal verb → See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
wish• He can blast a race open whenever he wishes.• Anyone wishing to order the book should send a cheque to the publishers.• Everyone has the right to smoke if they wish, but not the right to ruin the health of those around them.• I wish I didn't have to go to school.• I wish I had a car like that.• Beth wished she could stay there forever.• Afterward, Violet wished she hadn't said anything.• I wish they would turn that music down.• He did not wish to appear on the terrasse of the Continental at such an early hour.• He did not wish to love one more than the next.• I wish to purchase a second house in the UK for investment purposes.• I may therefore not have heard points made to which I wish to refer.• Every country wishes to see its own sportsmen and sportswomen as international champions.• Eventually, once he has them firmly under his rounded arm, he wishes us farewell.wish to do something• This is unlikely to deter parents wishing to start a family at a more mature age than usual.• In other words, while the original does not communicate what the speaker wished to communicate, the reformulation does.• What he wishes to do is to establish through everyday occurrences the realization within you of his existence.• Below are some points which you may wish to include in your application form.• A case-study involves the in-depth study of a single example of whatever it is that the sociologist wishes to investigate.• If you wish to join the tour, please be at the Box Office by 10am.• The police wish to question him about the fire.• I wish to report a robbery.• Rather than any theory of civilizations, therefore, we must study real instances if we wish to understand what civilization is.• You can repeat this option for each range of Assessors that you wish to view.wish (that)• Not wishing to appear stupid or ill-informed in front of patients and colleagues.• So now is the time to get over wishing that that were not the case.• I only wish Becker had taken questions from the audience.• I wish I could play the piano like that!• I wish I'd got some cos I could really do with a hot drink.• She wished that Ben would come home.• One wishes to see the entire full-length feature, to get a more complete sense of their lives.• I do not wish to treat friendships daintily, but with roughest courage.• If you believe you can return to this reality whenever you wish, you will.wish somebody something• Wish me luck!• She called to wish me a happy birthday.wish for• As North pointed out, these objectives were almost universally wished for.• I couldn't have been happier: there was nothing else I could wish for.• We hunted for mushrooms, boiled them in water, ate the glutinous mass slowly, wishing for salt.• The fisherman apologized for bothering him and then told the fish about the wish for a cottage.• But it was different to wish for calm and to be caught in calm.• Why did he sit there in that most sociable of settings, solitary and apparently with neither need nor wish for company?• I make a wish for time: time, time, time; for timelessness. 2.wish2 ●●● S3 noun [countable] 1 WANTa desire to do something, to have something, or to have something happen 希望；愿望2 ASK FOR something/ASK somebody TO DO somethinga silent request for something to happen as if by magic 默祷，祈求；许愿3 against somebody’s wishes DISOBEYif you do something against someone’s wishes, you do it even though you know they do not want you to 〔做事〕违反某人的意愿4 best/good/warmest etc wishes used, especially in cards and letters, to say that you hope someone will be happy, successful, or healthy 最诚挚/良好/最热烈等的祝愿5 have no wish to do something formalWANT used to emphasize that you do not want or intend to do something 无意做某事〔用于强调〕6. your wish is my command OBEYused humorously to say that you will do whatever someone asks you to do 你的愿望就是对我的命令〔幽默用法〕 COLLOCATIONSverbsmake a wish (=silently ask for something that you want to happen) 许个愿He blew out the candles and made a wish. 他吹灭蜡烛,许了个愿。get/have your wish (=get what you want) 愿望得以实现She wanted him to leave, and she got her wish. 她希望他离开,终于如愿以偿。grant/fulfil somebody's wish (=give someone what they want) 满足某人的愿望His parents would now be able to grant his wish. 他的父母现在能够满足他的愿望了。express a wish 表达愿望He expressed a wish to go to the United States. 他表达了想去美国的愿望。respect somebody’s wishes (=do what someone wants) 尊重某人的意愿We have to respect his wishes. 我们得尊重他的意愿。ignore somebody’s wishes 忽略某人的意愿It is important not to ignore the wishes of the patient. 不能忽视病人的意愿,这是很重要的。phrasessomebody's wish comes true 某人的愿望实现His wish came true when he was called up to play for England. 被召进英格兰队的那一刻,他的愿望实现了。adjectivessomebody’s greatest/deepest wish (also somebody’s dearest wish British English) (=what they want most of all) 某人最大的愿望Her greatest wish was to see her parents again. 她最大的愿望是能够再见到父母。somebody’s last/final/dying wish 某人的临终遗愿nHer last wish was to be buried in her husband’s grave.na fervent wish (=a strong wish)To die for Ireland was the fervent wish of every true patriot.nadverbscontrary to somebody's wishes (=against what someone has said they want)Contrary to her parents' wishes, she decided not to go to university.in accordance with somebody's wishes formal (=following what someone wants)In accordance with his wishes, he was buried next to his first wife.Examples from the Corpus
wish• She always wanted to see her grandchildren again - it was her dearest wish• On his birthday, Max gets his wish that his dad will stop lying for one day.• Still I approve of his wish that the next time round he will become a woman so that he can bear children.• Here, in the regressive, infantile wish for the perfect parent of early childhood lies the germ of the police state.• His last wish was that his body should be buried in his home town.• This month, my wish has been granted.• Several correspondents have written to me at different times expressing the wish that we join forces in order to become more effective.• Consequently, the parents often seize on anything as a portent which confirms their wishes.• She claimed to have been directed, used at all times as an instrument of their wishes, not her own.wish to do something• Nine were more powerfully motivated by a wish to escape from their present job, and expressed relief over leaving it.• At the sculpture class she expressed a wish to carve in hard stone.• She sends good wishes to all her friends and colleagues.• Hard-nosed policemen in unmarked cars belonged to a world of violence and intimidation he had no wish to enter.• A large number wish to continue working as long as they are fit and do not want to retire at the state pension age.• I 9 to be counter-productive in terms of what the Government and the Opposition wish to achieve.• Obviously this creates difficulties when staff wish to arrange extra-curricular activities.• Communication and the wish to communicate are not closely related.make a wish• If I could make a wish, it would be to put Juliette Harris on the board.• He should have made a wish.• I make a wish for time: time, time, time; for timelessness. 2.• As they do it they make a wish, presumably for children.• When she appears, you get to make a wish.• As the singing draws to a close, the cousins urge her to make a wish.• Nowadays we're more likely to make a wish.• Did you make a wish, cara?Origin wish1 Old English wyscanwish1 verb →5 GRAMMAR1 →n GRAMMAR2
→REGISTER1wish2 noun →COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChinese
→REGISTER1wish2 noun →COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChinese
or Corpus you wish do you something if to
wish
wish1 S1 W1 /wɪʃ/ 
verb
SYN like
wish to do something
I wish to make a complaint.
If you wish to discuss this matter further please do not hesitate to contact me.
You may leave now, if you wish.
(just) as you wish (=used in formal situations to tell someone you will do what they want)
‘I’d like it to be ready by six.’ ‘Just as you wish, sir.’
The cook will prepare whatever you wish.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say want rather than wish:
▪I want to see the manager.
▪You can go, if you want.
2. [transitive] to want something to be true although you know it is either impossible or unlikely ⇨ if only
wish (that)
I wish I didn’t have to go to work today.
I wish that I could afford a new car.
He wished Emily were with him.
Sometimes I wish I had never been born.
GRAMMAR
When talking about things that you would like to happen or be true, use wish and the past tense, or wish and would or could:
▪I wish I lived in New York.
▪I wish they would explain things better.
In British English, you can either say 'I wish I was’ or 'I wish I were', which is rather formal. In American English, you should use were:
▪I wish I were ten years younger.
When talking about things that you would like to have happened, use wish and the past perfect tense:
▪I wish I had paid more attention in class.
3. [transitive] to say that you hope someone will have good luck, a happy life etc
wish somebody something
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We wish them every happiness in their new home.
He shook my hand and wished me luck.
wish somebody well (=say that you hope that good things will happen to someone)
My friends wished me well in my new job.
4. I couldn’t wish for a nicer/better etc ... (also the nicest/best etc ... I could have wished for) used to emphasize that you are very happy with what you have and cannot imagine anyone or anything better:
I couldn’t wish for a better husband.
It’s the best birthday present I could have wished for.
5. I wish (that) somebody would do something spoken used to say that you find someone’s behaviour annoying and want them to change:
I wish you’d stop treating me like a child!
6. [intransitive]
a. to want something to happen or to want to have something, especially when it seems unlikely or impossible ⇨ long for
wish for
It was no use wishing for the impossible.
She was like the sister I never had but always wished for.
b. to silently ask for something you want and hope that it will happen by magic or good luck – used especially in children’s stories
wish for
One day she found a magic ring that brought her whatever she wished for.
7. I wish! spoken used to say that something is not true, but you wish it was:
‘I think he really likes you.’ ‘I wish!’
8. you wish! spoken used to tell someone that what they want to happen or be true will definitely not happen or become true:
‘I’m going to be famous one day.’ ‘You wish!’
9. wouldn’t wish something on/upon somebody spoken used to say that something is very unpleasant and that you would not like anyone to have to experience it:
Having your house broken into is terrible. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.
10. I don’t wish to interfere/be nosy etc British English spoken formal used to show you are sorry if what you are going to say upsets or annoys someone:
I don’t wish to seem ungrateful, but it’s not quite what I expected.
11. I (only) wish I knew British English spoken used to emphasize that you do not know something, and you wish you did know:
‘Where on earth have they gone?’ ‘I wish I knew!’
wish something ↔ away phrasal verb
1. to make something unpleasant disappear by wanting it to disappear, without doing anything about it:
You can’t just wish your problems away, you know!
2. wish your life away to always be thinking about the future, so that you do not do or enjoy things now – used to show disapproval:
Don’t wish your life away.
wish2 S3 noun [countable]
1. a desire to do something, to have something, or to have something happen
wish of
It’s important to listen to the wishes of the patient.
wish to do something
Despite her wish to continue working, she was forced to retire at the age of 62. ⇨ death wish
2. a silent request for something to happen as if by magic:
Close your eyes and make a wish.
3. against sb’s wishes if you do something against someone’s wishes, you do it even though you know they do not want you to:
She’d left school against her mother’s wishes.
go against sb’s wishes (=do something against their wishes)
4. best/good/warmest etc wishes used, especially in cards and letters, to say that you hope someone will be happy, successful, or healthy
best/good/warmest etc wishes for
Best wishes for a long and happy retirement!
She asked me to pass on her good wishes to all her friends and colleagues.
(With) best wishes (=used at the end of a letter before you sign your name)
With best wishes, Celia.
5. have no wish to do something formal used to emphasize that you do not want or intend to do something:
I have no wish to speak to her ever again.
6. your wish is my command used humorously to say that you will do whatever someone asks you to do
■ verbs
▪make a wish (=silently ask for something that you want to happen) He blew out the candles and made a wish.
▪get/have your wish (=get what you want) She wanted him to leave, and she got her wish.
▪grant/fulfil somebody's wish (=give someone what they want) His parents would now be able to grant his wish.
▪express a wish He expressed a wish to go to the United States.
▪respect sb’s wishes (=do what someone wants) We have to respect his wishes.
▪ignore sb’s wishes It is important not to ignore the wishes of the patient.
■ phrases
▪somebody's wish comes true His wish came true when he was called up to play for England.
■ adjectives
▪sb’s greatest/deepest wish (also sb’s dearest wish British English) (=what they want most of all) Her greatest wish was to see her parents again.
▪sb’s last/final/dying wish Her last wish was to be buried in her husband’s grave.
▪a fervent wish (=a strong wish) To die for Ireland was the fervent wish of every true patriot.
■ adverbs
▪contrary to somebody's wishes (=against what someone has said they want) Contrary to her parents' wishes, she decided not to go to university.
▪in accordance with somebody's wishes formal (=following what someone wants) In accordance with his wishes, he was buried next to his first wife.
| I |
verb Language: Old English
Origin: wyscan
1. [intransitive and transitive] formal if you wish to do something or you wish to have it done for you, you want to do it or want to have it done Origin: wyscan
SYN like
wish to do something
(just) as you wish (=used in formal situations to tell someone you will do what they want)
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say want rather than wish:
▪
▪
2. [transitive] to want something to be true although you know it is either impossible or unlikely ⇨ if only
wish (that)
GRAMMAR
When talking about things that you would like to happen or be true, use wish and the past tense, or wish and would or could:
▪
▪
In British English, you can either say 'I wish I was’ or 'I wish I were', which is rather formal. In American English, you should use were:
▪
When talking about things that you would like to have happened, use wish and the past perfect tense:
▪
3. [transitive] to say that you hope someone will have good luck, a happy life etc
wish somebody something
wish somebody well (=say that you hope that good things will happen to someone)
4. I couldn’t wish for a nicer/better etc ... (also the nicest/best etc ... I could have wished for) used to emphasize that you are very happy with what you have and cannot imagine anyone or anything better:
5. I wish (that) somebody would do something spoken used to say that you find someone’s behaviour annoying and want them to change:
6. [intransitive]
a. to want something to happen or to want to have something, especially when it seems unlikely or impossible ⇨ long for
wish for
b. to silently ask for something you want and hope that it will happen by magic or good luck – used especially in children’s stories
wish for
7. I wish! spoken used to say that something is not true, but you wish it was:
8. you wish! spoken used to tell someone that what they want to happen or be true will definitely not happen or become true:
9. wouldn’t wish something on/upon somebody spoken used to say that something is very unpleasant and that you would not like anyone to have to experience it:
10. I don’t wish to interfere/be nosy etc British English spoken formal used to show you are sorry if what you are going to say upsets or annoys someone:
11. I (only) wish I knew British English spoken used to emphasize that you do not know something, and you wish you did know:
wish something ↔ away phrasal verb
1. to make something unpleasant disappear by wanting it to disappear, without doing anything about it:
2. wish your life away to always be thinking about the future, so that you do not do or enjoy things now – used to show disapproval:
| II |
noun [countable]1. a desire to do something, to have something, or to have something happen
wish of
wish to do something
2. a silent request for something to happen as if by magic:
3. against sb’s wishes if you do something against someone’s wishes, you do it even though you know they do not want you to:
go against sb’s wishes (=do something against their wishes)
4. best/good/warmest etc wishes used, especially in cards and letters, to say that you hope someone will be happy, successful, or healthy
best/good/warmest etc wishes for
(With) best wishes (=used at the end of a letter before you sign your name)
5. have no wish to do something formal used to emphasize that you do not want or intend to do something:
6. your wish is my command used humorously to say that you will do whatever someone asks you to do
| COLLOCATIONS |
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■ phrases
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■ adjectives
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■ adverbs
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also
After the verb wish in sense 1, a past tense is always used in athat clause.动词 wish 作第 1 义时，后面的 that 从句总是用过去时 ：◆ Do you wish (that) you had a better job?你希望有个更好的工作吗？ In more formal English, especially in NAmE were afterI, he, she, it instead ofwas .在更正式的英语，尤其是美式英语中，许多人在 I、he、she、it 之后用 were，而不用 was ：◆ I wish he were here tonight.要是他今晚在这儿就好了。
especially
After the verb wish in sense 1, a past tense is always used in athat clause.动词 wish 作第 1 义时，后面的 that 从句总是用过去时 ：◆ Do you wish (that) you had a better job?你希望有个更好的工作吗？ In more formal English, especially in NAmE were afterI, he, she, it instead ofwas .在更正式的英语，尤其是美式英语中，许多人在 I、he、she、it 之后用 were，而不用 was ：◆ I wish he were here tonight.要是他今晚在这儿就好了。
After the verb wish in sense 1, a past tense is always used in athat clause.动词 wish 作第 1 义时，后面的 that 从句总是用过去时 ：◆ Do you wish (that) you had a better job?你希望有个更好的工作吗？ In more formal English, especially in NAmE were afterI, he, she, it instead ofwas .在更正式的英语，尤其是美式英语中，许多人在 I、he、she、it 之后用 were，而不用 was ：◆ I wish he were here tonight.要是他今晚在这儿就好了。
