wishing

USAGE SUMMARY

'wishing' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it in a sentence when you want to express a desire or hope, often with the implication that it is unlikely to come true. Example: I'm wishing for a miracle to make all my troubles disappear.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wishing it doesn't make it true, but working on it does.

The Guardian - Tech

Those wishing to prise the coveted guestbook from the hotel's grasp will have to make do with trying to decipher the autographs scrawled on the piano which sits in the 24-hour private bar.

The Guardian - Travel

Given their torturous progress en route to the finishing line Wigan could have been forgiven for wishing the season had finished in March, when theirs had effectively ended.

The Guardian - Sport

Mauritius is known for its secrecy, negligible corporate tax rates, and for being a favoured conduit for wealthy individuals and multinationals wishing to avoid tax on African and Asian profits.

The Guardian

At times this was expressed through seemingly insignificant gestures – such as wishing each other a happy birthday – but it offered something entirely absent in the offline world: solidarity, comradeship and, above all, acceptance.

The Guardian - Opinion

If the interview has gone well, you will see them tucking into great slabs of fresh cream cake, their coats flung carelessly across the tables, wishing fellow diners good morning and engaging in casual conversation with all and sundry, including the Albanian waiters.

The Guardian

Sassuolo must be wishing that they had played Inter sooner.

The Guardian - Sport

Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne was left with the task of wishing people good luck while Pattinson struggled with valet parking and immediately crashed the first car given to him.

The Guardian

Wishing it different will not make it so.

The Guardian - Opinion

The country owed Cafferkey and the other volunteers an enormous debt of gratitude, said Hunt. "I know the whole house will join me in wishing Pauline well and commending her and her NHS colleagues for the exceptional bravery they showed in joining the battle against Ebola in Sierra Leone," he said.

The Guardian

At a time when students are increasingly concerned about career prospects and job security, the reported future shortage in teaching staff means that teaching may prove a smart choice for those wishing to embark on a rewarding career while avoiding more competitive job markets.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wishing" to convey empathy or goodwill towards others, especially in formal greetings or messages.

Common error

Avoid starting every sentence with "wishing" in formal writing. Vary your sentence structure with synonyms like "hoping" or "desiring" to improve readability and maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "wishing" primarily functions as a present participle of the verb "wish", often used in continuous verb tenses or as a gerund. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and the examples show its use in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

20%

Opinion

15%

Less common in

Travel

10%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wishing" functions as a present participle, expressing desires, hopes, or goodwill. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically sound and widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, be mindful of overusing it in formal settings. As Ludwig's analysis and examples demonstrate, "wishing" is a common and adaptable term in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hoping

Implies a degree of optimism or expectation about a future event.

desiring

Expresses a strong feeling of wanting something; a more formal alternative.

wanting

A general term for feeling a need or desire for something.

longing for

Conveys a deep and persistent yearning for something.

yearning for

Similar to "longing for", suggesting a profound sense of missing something.

aspiring to

Suggests having ambitions or goals to achieve.

dreaming of

Implies a more imaginative or unrealistic desire.

seeking

Indicates an active effort to obtain something.

intending

Suggests having a plan or purpose to do something.

aiming for

Implies setting a specific target or objective.

FAQs

How can I use "wishing" in a sentence?

"Wishing" is often used to express a desire or hope for something. For example, "I'm wishing for a better future" or "Wishing you all the best".

What's a good alternative to "wishing" when expressing hope?

Alternatives include "hoping", "desiring", or "longing for", depending on the intensity and context of your sentiment.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I'm wishing"?

Yes, "I'm wishing" is grammatically correct and is the present continuous form of the verb "wish". It's often used to describe a current feeling or desire.

When should I use "wishing" versus "hoping"?

"Wishing" often implies a less certain or more fanciful desire, while "hoping" suggests a greater degree of possibility or expectation. Consider the likelihood of the outcome when choosing between the two.