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.
Florida courts have denied any appeals to Tanzi's death sentence; his only hope lies with clemency from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed Tanzi's death warrant, or an eleventh-hour intervention by the U.S. Supreme Court. Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025 Suddenly, Riddick's effervescent peepers become their only hope for survival, if he can be bothered to help out. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2025 Her only hope now lies with a small, independent body, the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which is responsible for investigating possible miscarriages of justice. Megan Specia, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2025 Her only hope now lies with the Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance, a state agency that resolves prior authorization disputes between patients and health insurance companies. Lauren Sausser | Kff Health News, ABC News, 31 Mar. 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 16 Apr. 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!