wish noun
1 feeling that you want sth
ADJ. dearest, deepest, fervent, greatest, strong | conscious, unconscious | secret | dying, last He was denied his dying wish to be reconciled with his son. | death Freud's theory of the death wish | personal | parental the child's detention against parental wishes
VERB + WISH have | express, make known She has expressed a wish to visit the Houses of Parliament. | fulfill She fulfilled her deepest wish when she flew solo for the first time. | get She's always wanted to be an actress, and I'm sure she'll get her wish. | grant sb | be responsive to, consider, honour, respect, take into account It is vital for schools to respect the wishes of parents. | carry out, comply with, implement, meet We need to update our equipment if we are to meet customers' wishes. | obey She flew into a rage if the staff didn't obey her wishes. | deny sb | disregard, flout, go against, ignore, override, ride roughshod over The committee rode roughshod over the wishes of union members. | reflect The change to the constitution reflects the wishes of the people who voted in the referendum.
WISH + NOUN fulfilment | list Draw up a wish list, defining the requirements for your ideal home.
PREP. against sb's ~s Her father will not speak to her, because she married against his wishes. | in sb's ~ In his wish to be as helpful as possible, he was forever asking her what she wanted. | in accordance with sb's ~s In accordance with his wishes, his ashes were scattered at sea. | ~ for a wish for peace
2 saying secretly to yourself what you want to happen
VERB + WISH have, make When you see a black cat, you have to make a wish. | be allowed, get If you're the one who finds the hidden box, you get a wish. | grant The good fairy granted her three wishes.
WISH + VERB come true Lo and behold, on Christmas Day their wishes came true.
3 (usually wishes) hope that sb will be happy
ADJ. best, good Give my best wishes to Alison.
VERB + WISH give sb, send (sb)
PREP. with ~ (at the end of a letter) With best wishes for a happy birthday. | ~ for Every good wish for your future happiness together.