wish upon a star

UK/wɪʃ əˈpɒn ə stɑː(ɹ)/US/wɪʃ əˈpɑn ə stɑɹ/US/wɪʃ əˈpɔn ə stɑɹ/

verb

To make a wish on seeing a shooting star.

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Meanings

verbwish upon a star (third-person singular simple present wishes upon a star, present participle wishing upon a star, simple past and past participle wished upon a star)

present singular third person wishes upon a star · participle present wishing upon a star · participle past wished upon a star · past wished upon a star · alternative uncommon wish on a star

  1. literallyTo make a wish on seeing a shooting star.
  2. figurativelyTo desire something without putting in any effort for it.

Origin

Originates from ancient times.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French prier la bonne étoile
  • prier la bonne étoileTo desire something without putting in any effort for it.
Cite this entry
APA

wish upon a star. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wish%20upon%20a%20star

MLA

“wish upon a star.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wish%20upon%20a%20star. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “wish upon a star,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wish%20upon%20a%20star.

Source: wish upon a star on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.