Wish vs. Want

Wish vs. Want — Is There a Difference?
ADVERTISEMENT

Difference Between Wish and Want

Wishnoun

A desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen.

Wantverb

(transitive) To wish for or desire (something); to feel a need or desire for; to crave or demand.

What do you want to eat?I want you to leave.never wanted to go back to live with my mother.want to be an astronaut when I'm older.don't want him to marry Gloria, Iwant him to marry me!What do you want from me?you want anything from the shops?

Wishnoun

An expression of such a desire, often connected with ideas of magic and supernatural power.

Wantverb

To wish, desire, or demand to see, have the presence of or do business with.

Ma’am, you are exactly the professional we want for this job.Danish police want him for embezzlement.

Wishnoun

The thing desired or longed for.

My dearest wish is to see them happily married.

Wantverb

(transitive) To lack and be in need of or require (something, such as a noun or verbal noun).

That chair wants fixing.
ADVERTISEMENT

Wishnoun

(Sussex) A water meadow.

Wantverb

(transitive) To lack and be without, to not have (something).

Wishverb

(transitive) To desire; to want.

I'll come tomorrow, if you wish it.

Wantverb

To lack and (be able to) do without.

Wishverb

To hope (for a particular outcome).

Wantverb

(transitive) To have occasion for (something requisite or useful); to require or need.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wishverb

(ditransitive) To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something).

We wish you a Merry Christmas.

Wantverb

(intransitive) To desire (to experience desire); to wish.

the cat wants back out again; you can leave if you want

Wishverb

To request or desire to do an activity.

Wantverb

To be lacking or deficient or absent.

There was something wanting in the play.

Wishverb

(transitive) To recommend; to seek confidence or favour on behalf of.

Wantverb

To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack.

Wishnoun

a specific feeling of desire;

he got his wishhe was above all wishing and desire

Wantverb

To be advised to do something should, ought}}.

You’ll want to repeat this three or four times to get the best result.

Wishnoun

an expression of some desire or inclination;

I could tell that it was his wish that the guests leavehis crying was an indirect request for attention

Wantnoun

(countable) A desire, wish, longing.

Wishnoun

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

give him my kind regardsmy best wishes

Wantnoun

}} Lack, absence.

Wishnoun

the particular preference that you have;

it was his last wishthey should respect the wishes of the people

Wantnoun

(uncountable) Poverty.

Wishverb

hope for; have a wish;

I wish I could go home now

Wantnoun

Something needed or desired; a thing of which the loss is felt.

Wishverb

prefer or wish to do something;

Do you care to try this dish?Would you like to come along to the movies?

Wantnoun

A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before the subsequent deposition took place.

Wishverb

have in mind;

I will take the exam tomorrow

Wantnoun

a state of extreme poverty

Wishverb

make or express a wish;

I wish that Christmas were over

Wantnoun

the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable;

there is a serious lack of insight into the problemwater is the critical deficiency in desert regionsfor want of a nail the shoe was lost

Wishverb

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

Wantnoun

anything that is necessary but lacking;

he had sufficient means to meet his simple needsI tried to supply his wants

Wishverb

order politely; express a wish for

Wantnoun

a specific feeling of desire;

he got his wishhe was above all wishing and desire

Wishverb

invoke upon;

wish you a nice eveningbid farewell

Wantverb

feel or have a desire for; want strongly;

I want to go home nowI want my own room

Wantverb

have need of;

This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner

Wantverb

wish or demand the presence of;

I want you here at noon!

Wantverb

hunt or look for; want for a particular reason;

Your former neighbor is wanted by the FBIUncle Sam wants you

Wantverb

be without, lack; be deficient in;

want courtesywant the strength to go on livingflood victims wanting food and shelter