Wish vs. Want: What's the Difference?
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || 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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
"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."
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Grammatical Use
Used with "were" or "would" for hypothetical situations
Used with infinitive verbs or nouns for real situations
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
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Wish and Want Definitions
Wish
A desire for something improbable or unattainable.
I wish for peace in the world.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 02, 2023
Want
A desire for a tangible object or achievable outcome.
I want a new bicycle.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
Want
A request or expression of a need for a specific thing or action.
The cat wants to be fed.
Sara Rehman
Oct 02, 2023
Wish
A hope for the occurrence of something unlikely.
He makes a wish as he blows out the birthday candles.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
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Want
A strong feeling of wishing for something to happen or be the case.
He wants to succeed in his career.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
Wish
A request or expression of a desire for a particular circumstance.
I wish to be considered for the position.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
An expression of a desire, longing, or strong inclination
Carried out the wishes included in the will.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
An expression of desire for the happiness or success of another
Sent me his best wishes.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
(Informal) To be obliged (to do something)
You want to be careful on the ice.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
To feel or express a desire for
I wish them good luck. He wished her good night.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
To be in need of; require
"'Your hair wants cutting,' said the Hatter" (Lewis Carroll).
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
To order, entreat, or request
I wish you to go. I wish it to be known that I disagree.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
To desire (something bad) to happen to someone
I would not wish such an illness on anyone.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
The condition or quality of lacking something usual or necessary
Stayed home for want of anything better to do.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
A desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen.
Have a wish
Make someone's wish come true
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
An expression of such a desire, often connected with ideas of magic and supernatural power.
Make a wish
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
The thing desired or longed for.
My dearest wish is to see them happily married.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
(intransitive) To desire (to experience desire); to wish.
You can leave if you want.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
To lack and be in need of or require (something, such as a noun or verbal noun).
That chair wants fixing.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
(ditransitive) To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something).
We wish you a Merry Christmas.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
To have occasion for (something requisite or useful); to require or need.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
To be lacking or deficient or absent.
There was something wanting in the play.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
To be in a state of destitution; to be needy; to lack.
The paupers desperately want.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
To lack and be without, to not have (something).
She wanted anything she needed.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
Desire; eager desire; longing.
Behold, I am according to thy wish in God a stead.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
Expression of desire; request; petition; hence, invocation or imprecation.
Blistered be thy tongue for such a wish.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
A thing desired; an object of desire.
Will he, wise, let loose at once his ire . . . To give his enemies their wish!
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before the subsequent deposition took place.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
A specific feeling of desire;
He got his wish
He was above all wishing and desire
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
(usually plural) a polite expression of desire for someone's welfare;
Give him my kind regards
My best wishes
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
The particular preference that you have;
It was his last wish
They should respect the wishes of the people
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
A depression in coal strata, hollowed out before the subsequent deposition took place.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
Prefer or wish to do something;
Do you care to try this dish?
Would you like to come along to the movies?
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
To feel need of; to wish or long for; to desire; to crave.
I want to speak to you about something.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Wish
A feeling of longing for a specific outcome or situation.
She wishes to visit Paris one day.
Janet White
Oct 02, 2023
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
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
Anything that is necessary but lacking;
He had sufficient means to meet his simple needs
I tried to supply his wants
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
A specific feeling of desire;
He got his wish
He was above all wishing and desire
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
Feel or have a desire for; want strongly;
I want to go home now
I want my own room
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
Hunt or look for; want for a particular reason;
Your former neighbor is wanted by the FBI
Uncle Sam wants you
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
Be without, lack; be deficient in;
Want courtesy
Want the strength to go on living
Flood victims wanting food and shelter
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 06, 2022
Want
A feeling of lacking something needed or desired.
People who lack water are in want of it.
Janet White
Oct 02, 2023
Want
A more direct and straightforward expression of desire.
I want to speak with you.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
FAQs
Is “wish” used for improbable desires?
Yes, “wish” typically expresses a desire for something seen as improbable or unattainable.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
Is “want” more about feasible needs?
Yes, “want” generally expresses a desire or need that's considered feasible or achievable.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
Does “wish” imply a less likely occurrence?
Yes, “wish” often implies that the desired outcome is less likely to occur, reflecting its improbability.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
Is “wish” more formal or polite?
“Wish” can convey a more formal or polite tone, especially when expressing desires or making requests.
Janet White
Oct 02, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
Can “want” imply a lack of something?
Yes, “want” can imply a lack or absence of something needed or desired.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 02, 2023
Is “want” used with tangible objects?
“Want” is often used to express a desire for tangible objects or specific, achievable outcomes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
Does “wish” involve hypothetical situations?
Yes, “wish” often involves hypothetical situations and is used with “were” or “would.”
Aimie Carlson
Oct 02, 2023
Can “want” be perceived as demanding?
Yes, “want” can be perceived as more demanding or less polite, depending on the context.
Harlon Moss
Oct 02, 2023
Does “wish” reflect a longing for something?
Yes, “wish” often conveys a feeling of longing or a desire for a specific outcome or situation.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 02, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
Is “want” associated with real and practical desires?
Yes, “want” is typically associated with real, practical needs or desires that are achievable.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
Is “want” associated with achievable goals?
Yes, “want” is often associated with achievable goals or tangible needs.
Janet White
Oct 02, 2023
Can “wish” express a hope for the future?
Yes, “wish” can express a hope or desire for future events or situations.
Sara Rehman
Oct 02, 2023
Is “want” clearer about the desire?
Yes, “want” is typically clearer and more straightforward about the expressed desire.
Harlon Moss
Oct 02, 2023
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.
Sara Rehman
Oct 02, 2023
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.
Janet White
Oct 02, 2023
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.”
Harlon Moss
Oct 02, 2023
Does “wish” convey idealistic desires?
Yes, “wish” often conveys more idealistic, emotional, or unattainable desires.
Janet White
Oct 02, 2023
Can “wish” express polite requests?
Yes, “wish” can be used to make subtle, polite requests or express desires in formal contexts.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 02, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
