Wish vs. Want: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 2, 2023
"Wish" typically expresses a desire for something unattainable or improbable, while "want" often indicates a desire or need that's feasible or achievable.
Key Differences
"Wish" is used to express a desire or hope for something that is not easily attainable or may seem impossible or improbable. It often conveys longing for a situation or outcome that is not likely to occur. On the other hand, "want" is used to express a desire or need for something more attainable or feasible, usually something that can be acquired or achieved through actions or efforts.
For example, one might wish for world peace or to win the lottery—things that are not directly controllable. In contrast, one might want a new book or to learn a new skill—things that are more directly achievable through one's actions or decisions. While "wish" is more about unattainable desires, "want" is oriented towards attainable needs or goals.
In grammatical terms, both "wish" and "want" can be used as verbs and nouns, but they have different connotations and are used in different contexts. "Wish" often conveys a more emotional, idealistic desire, whereas "want" usually conveys a more practical, tangible need or desire.
"Wish" often involves hypothetical situations, typically introduced by "were" or "would," reflecting the improbability of the desire. In contrast, "want" is usually used with infinitive verbs or nouns, highlighting a more real and achievable desire. For instance, one might say, "I wish I were a millionaire," but "I want to earn a million dollars."
Usage of "wish" often implies a subtle, polite request or a more formal tone. For example, “I wish to speak to the manager,” as opposed to the more straightforward and casual, “I want to speak to the manager.” "Want," being more direct, is typically clearer about the desire but can be perceived as more demanding or less polite, depending on the context.
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Improbable or unattainable desire
Feasible or achievable desire
Grammatical Use
Used with "were" or "would" for hypothetical situations
Used with infinitive verbs or nouns for real situations
Tone
More formal or polite
More direct and potentially demanding
Context
Idealistic or emotional desires
Practical, tangible needs or desires
Likelihood of Occurrence
Less likely to occur
More likely to be achieved
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Wish and Want Definitions
Wish
A desire for something improbable or unattainable.
I wish for peace in the world.
Want
A desire for a tangible object or achievable outcome.
I want a new bicycle.
Wish
A polite or formal expression of desire.
We wish you a Merry Christmas.
Want
A request or expression of a need for a specific thing or action.
The cat wants to be fed.
Wish
A hope for the occurrence of something unlikely.
He makes a wish as he blows out the birthday candles.
Want
A strong feeling of wishing for something to happen or be the case.
He wants to succeed in his career.
Wish
A request or expression of a desire for a particular circumstance.
I wish to be considered for the position.
Want
To have a strong feeling to have (something); wish (to possess or do something); desire greatly
She wants a glass of water. They want to leave.
Wish
A feeling that one would like to have or do something or to see something happen; a desire, longing, or strong inclination for a specific thing.
Want
To desire (someone to do something)
I want you to clean your room.
Wish
An expression of a desire, longing, or strong inclination
Carried out the wishes included in the will.
Want
To request the presence or assistance of
You are wanted by your office.
Wish
An expression of desire for the happiness or success of another
Sent me his best wishes.
Want
To seek with intent to capture
The fugitive is wanted by the police.
Wish
Something desired or longed for
Finally got his wish to see the ocean.
Want
To have an inclination toward; like
Say what you want, but be tactful.
Wish
To long for; want.
Want
(Informal) To be obliged (to do something)
You want to be careful on the ice.
Wish
To feel or express a desire for
I wish them good luck. He wished her good night.
Want
To be in need of; require
"'Your hair wants cutting,' said the Hatter" (Lewis Carroll).
Wish
To order, entreat, or request
I wish you to go. I wish it to be known that I disagree.
Want
To be without; lack.
Wish
To desire (something bad) to happen to someone
I would not wish such an illness on anyone.
Want
To be inclined or desirous; wish
Call me daily if you want.
Wish
To have or feel a desire
Wish for a successful outcome.
Want
The condition or quality of lacking something usual or necessary
Stayed home for want of anything better to do.
Wish
To express a wish.
Want
Pressing need; destitution
Lives in want.
Wish
A desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen.
Have a wish
Make someone's wish come true
Want
Something desired
A person of few wants and needs.
Wish
An expression of such a desire, often connected with ideas of magic and supernatural power.
Make a wish
Want
A defect of character; a fault.
Wish
The thing desired or longed for.
My dearest wish is to see them happily married.
Want
(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.
Wish
(Sussex) A water meadow.
Want
(by extension) To make it easy or tempting to do something undesirable, or to make it hard or challenging to refrain from doing it.
The game developers of Candy Crush want you to waste large, copious amounts of your money on in-game purchases to buy boosters and lives.
Depression wants you to feel like the world is dark and that you are not worthy of happiness. The first step to making your life better from this day forward is to stop believing these lies.
Wish
(transitive) To desire; to want.
I'll come tomorrow, if you wish it.
Want
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.
Wish
To hope (+ object clause with may or in present subjunctive).
Want
(intransitive) To desire (to experience desire); to wish.
You can leave if you want.
Wish
To hope (for a particular outcome), even if that outcome is unlikely to occur or cannot occur.
I wish I could go back in time and teach myself what I know now.
Want
To lack and be in need of or require (something, such as a noun or verbal noun).
That chair wants fixing.
Wish
(ditransitive) To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something).
We wish you a Merry Christmas.
Want
To have occasion for (something requisite or useful); to require or need.
Wish
To request or desire to do an activity.
Want
To be lacking or deficient or absent.
There was something wanting in the play.
Wish
(transitive) To recommend; to seek confidence or favour on behalf of.
Want
To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack.
The paupers desperately want.
Wish
To have a desire or yearning; to long; to hanker.
They cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for.
Want
To lack and be without, to not have (something).
She wanted anything she needed.
Wish
To desire; to long for; to hanker after; to have a mind or disposition toward.
I would not wishAny companion in the world but you.
I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper.
Want
To lack and (be able to) do without.
Wish
To frame or express desires concerning; to invoke in favor of, or against, any one; to attribute, or cal down, in desire; to invoke; to imprecate.
I would not wish them to a fairer death.
I wish it may not prove some ominous foretoken of misfortune to have met with such a miser as I am.
Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil.
Want
(countable) A desire, wish, longing.
Wish
To recommend; to seek confidence or favor in behalf of.
I would be glad to thrive, sir,And I was wished to your worship by a gentleman.
Want
Lack, absence, deficiency.
A want of sense.
Wish
Desire; eager desire; longing.
Behold, I am according to thy wish in God a stead.
Want
(uncountable) Poverty.
Wish
Expression of desire; request; petition; hence, invocation or imprecation.
Blistered be thy tongue for such a wish.
Want
Something needed or desired; a thing of which the loss is felt.
Wish
A thing desired; an object of desire.
Will he, wise, let loose at once his ire . . . To give his enemies their wish!
Want
A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before the subsequent deposition took place.
Wish
A specific feeling of desire;
He got his wish
He was above all wishing and desire
Want
(dialectal) A mole (Talpa europea).
Wish
An expression of some desire or inclination;
I could tell that it was his wish that the guests leave
His crying was an indirect request for attention
Want
The state of not having; the condition of being without anything; absence or scarcity of what is needed or desired; deficiency; lack; as, a want of power or knowledge for any purpose; want of food and clothing.
And me, his parent, would full soon devourFor want of other prey.
From having wishes in consequence of our wants, we often feel wants in consequence of our wishes.
Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and more saucy.
Wish
(usually plural) a polite expression of desire for someone's welfare;
Give him my kind regards
My best wishes
Want
Specifically, absence or lack of necessaries; destitution; poverty; penury; indigence; need.
Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches, as to conceive how others can be in want.
Wish
The particular preference that you have;
It was his last wish
They should respect the wishes of the people
Want
That which is needed or desired; a thing of which the loss is felt; what is not possessed, and is necessary for use or pleasure.
Habitual superfluities become actual wants.
Wish
Hope for; have a wish;
I wish I could go home now
Want
A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before the subsequent deposition took place.
Wish
Prefer or wish to do something;
Do you care to try this dish?
Would you like to come along to the movies?
Want
To be without; to be destitute of, or deficient in; not to have; to lack; as, to want knowledge; to want judgment; to want learning; to want food and clothing.
They that want honesty, want anything.
Nor think, though men were none,That heaven would want spectators, God want praise.
The unhappy never want enemies.
Wish
Have in mind;
I will take the exam tomorrow
Want
To have occasion for, as useful, proper, or requisite; to require; to need; as, in winter we want a fire; in summer we want cooling breezes.
Wish
Make or express a wish;
I wish that Christmas were over
Want
To feel need of; to wish or long for; to desire; to crave.
I want to speak to you about something.
Wish
Feel or express a desire or hope concerning the future or fortune of
Want
To be absent; to be deficient or lacking; to fail; not to be sufficient; to fall or come short; to lack; - often used impersonally with of; as, it wants ten minutes of four.
The disposition, the manners, and the thoughts are all before it; where any of those are wanting or imperfect, so much wants or is imperfect in the imitation of human life.
Wish
Order politely; express a wish for
Want
To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack.
You have a gift, sir (thank your education),Will never let you want.
For as in bodies, thus in souls, we findWhat wants in blood and spirits, swelled with wind.
Wish
Invoke upon;
Wish you a nice evening
Bid farewell
Want
A state of extreme poverty
Wish
A feeling of longing for a specific outcome or situation.
She wishes to visit Paris one day.
Want
The state of needing something that is absent or unavailable;
There is a serious lack of insight into the problem
Water is the critical deficiency in desert regions
For want of a nail the shoe was lost
Want
Anything that is necessary but lacking;
He had sufficient means to meet his simple needs
I tried to supply his wants
Want
A specific feeling of desire;
He got his wish
He was above all wishing and desire
Want
Feel or have a desire for; want strongly;
I want to go home now
I want my own room
Want
Have need of;
This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner
Want
Wish or demand the presence of;
I want you here at noon!
Want
Hunt or look for; want for a particular reason;
Your former neighbor is wanted by the FBI
Uncle Sam wants you
Want
Be without, lack; be deficient in;
Want courtesy
Want the strength to go on living
Flood victims wanting food and shelter
Want
A feeling of lacking something needed or desired.
People who lack water are in want of it.
Want
A more direct and straightforward expression of desire.
I want to speak with you.
FAQs
Is “wish” used for improbable desires?
Yes, “wish” typically expresses a desire for something seen as improbable or unattainable.
Is “want” more about feasible needs?
Yes, “want” generally expresses a desire or need that's considered feasible or achievable.
Does “wish” imply a less likely occurrence?
Yes, “wish” often implies that the desired outcome is less likely to occur, reflecting its improbability.
Is “wish” more formal or polite?
“Wish” can convey a more formal or polite tone, especially when expressing desires or making requests.
Is “want” more direct than “wish”?
Yes, “want” is usually more direct and clear about the desire, while “wish” is often more subtle or polite.
Can “want” imply a lack of something?
Yes, “want” can imply a lack or absence of something needed or desired.
Is “want” used with tangible objects?
“Want” is often used to express a desire for tangible objects or specific, achievable outcomes.
Does “wish” involve hypothetical situations?
Yes, “wish” often involves hypothetical situations and is used with “were” or “would.”
Can “want” be perceived as demanding?
Yes, “want” can be perceived as more demanding or less polite, depending on the context.
Does “wish” reflect a longing for something?
Yes, “wish” often conveys a feeling of longing or a desire for a specific outcome or situation.
Can “wish” and “want” be used as both verbs and nouns?
Yes, both “wish” and “want” can function as verbs and nouns with different connotations.
Is “want” associated with real and practical desires?
Yes, “want” is typically associated with real, practical needs or desires that are achievable.
Is “want” associated with achievable goals?
Yes, “want” is often associated with achievable goals or tangible needs.
Can “wish” express a hope for the future?
Yes, “wish” can express a hope or desire for future events or situations.
Is “want” clearer about the desire?
Yes, “want” is typically clearer and more straightforward about the expressed desire.
Does “want” reflect a strong feeling of desire?
Yes, “want” can reflect a strong feeling of wishing for something to happen or be the case.
Is “want” related to actions to achieve the desire?
Yes, “want” is usually related to actions or efforts to achieve the desired object or outcome.
Can “wish” be used in formal greetings or farewells?
Yes, “wish” is often used in formal greetings or farewells, like “We wish you a Merry Christmas.”
Does “wish” convey idealistic desires?
Yes, “wish” often conveys more idealistic, emotional, or unattainable desires.
Can “wish” express polite requests?
Yes, “wish” can be used to make subtle, polite requests or express desires in formal contexts.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
