only wish/want/hope

idiom

used to stress that someone's wishing/wanting/hoping something is the simple truth
He only wished she'd told him sooner.
I only wish I knew what was going on.
He only wanted to help.
I only hope she can get over this.

Examples of only wish/want/hope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Their only hope for surviving the night is to overturn the transports and use them as shelter. Matt Cabral, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025 Her way of seeing the world frames Osborn’s politics, that people are exhausted, overworked and often not heard, but most of them are good and only want what’s fair. Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2025 Eric Dane is cast as Weaving’s bodyguard and only hope of escaping the contrived wedding planned by her obsessed fan. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2025 There are consumers who only want to avoid high-risk ingredients, and there are those who want to avoid high-, moderate- and low-risk ingredients altogether. Noor Lobad, WWD, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for only wish/want/hope

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Only wish/want/hope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/only%20wish%2Fwant%2Fhope. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!