wished for

USAGE SUMMARY

"wished for" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase typically expresses something desired or hoped for. For example, "She had long wished for a life of adventure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He wished for nothing else.

The New Yorker

I just wished for a little swelling".

The New Yorker

But I wished for more of them.

The New York Times - Books

He ultimately got what he wished for.

The New York Times - Sports

I wonder whether she wished for some.

The New Yorker

Death was feared but also wished for.

The New York Times

Not everything we wished for happened".

The New York Times

All he wished for was some music.

The New Yorker

She could have wished for everlasting life.

The New Yorker

We got what we wished for.

The New York Times - Arts

John always wished for whatever Marcia wished for.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wished for" when you want to emphasize a sense of desire or longing, especially for something that may be difficult to obtain. Ensure that the context clearly indicates who is doing the wishing.

Common error

Avoid using "wished for" in place of the subjunctive mood in conditional sentences. For example, instead of "I wished for I had known", use "I wish I had known".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wished for" functions primarily as a past participle modifying a noun, adjective, or pronoun to indicate something that was desired. Ludwig AI indicates this usage is common and accepted in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wished for" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe something desired or longed for in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. It appears most often in news and media contexts, with a neutral to informal register. When using "wished for", ensure it clearly indicates the subject doing the wishing and avoid confusing it with subjunctive constructions. Consider alternatives like "hoped for" or "desired" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hoped for

Emphasizes a feeling of hope or expectation, suggesting a less intense desire than "wished for".

desired

Focuses on a strong feeling of wanting or craving something, often implying a more conscious and active desire than "wished for".

longed for

Conveys a sense of yearning or missing something deeply, highlighting the emotional aspect of the desire.

yearned for

Similar to "longed for", but often implies a more intense and persistent feeling of wanting something.

craved

Indicates a strong and often urgent desire, usually for something specific and tangible.

aspired to

Focuses on having a goal or ambition, suggesting a more proactive and deliberate effort to achieve something than simply "wishing".

sought after

Highlights the value or desirability of something, implying that it is pursued or desired by many.

dreamed of

Implies that the desire exists in one's thoughts and aspirations, often suggesting a less realistic or attainable goal.

aimed for

Indicates a specific target or goal, suggesting a more strategic and focused approach than simply "wishing".

hankered after

Suggests a persistent and perhaps somewhat whimsical desire for something, often with a nostalgic or sentimental tone.

FAQs

How can I use "wished for" in a sentence?

You can use "wished for" to describe something that someone desired or longed for in the past. For example, "She had always wished for a life of adventure".

What are some alternatives to "wished for"?

Alternatives include "hoped for", "longed for", or "desired". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "I wished that for" instead of "I wished for that"?

While "I wished for that" is more common and natural, "I wished that for" is grammatically correct but less frequently used. It might appear in more formal contexts or when emphasizing the "that".

What's the difference between "wished for" and "hoped for"?

"Wished for" often implies a stronger sense of longing or unlikelihood, whereas "hoped for" suggests a more realistic expectation or anticipation of something good.