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.

If the team slides out of the playoff picture, B’s management can only hope that Chicago misread the market and simply made a bad deal. —

Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2025 Even though President Donald Trump delayed enforcement for 75 days, displaced TikTokers only hope truly lies with the president's ability to get ByteDance to lawfully divest. —

John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025 Because there is no future when he is gone, only hope. —

Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2025 The Oilers will be looking for another veteran defenceman at this year’s deadline, and can only hope to acquire someone close to Ekholm in terms of impact. —

Allan Mitchell, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for only wish/want/hope

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“Only wish/want/hope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/only%20wish%2Fwant%2Fhope. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.

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