wishful

W4I1S1H4F4U1L1
UK/ˈwɪʃfəl/

adjective

Wished-for; desired, wanted.

Similar
desirousappetentathirsthungrythirstyaviddevouringesurient
Less commonScrabble 16
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Meanings

adjectivewishful (comparative more wishful, superlative most wishful)

comparative more wishful · superlative most wishful

  1. obsoleteWished-for; desired, wanted.

    The cry whereof entring the hollow cave / Eftsoones brought forth the villaine, as they ment, / With hope of her some wishfull boot to have.

    1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC
  2. Expressing a wish or longing for something.

    When she weighed anchor I went to the waterside and looked at her with a very wishful and aching heart, and followed her with my eyes and tears until she was totally out of sight.

    1789, Olaudah Equiano, chapter 5, in The Interesting Narrative, volume I
  3. Aspiring, or seeking advancement.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivehaving or expressing desire for something

Similar
desirousappetentathirsthungrythirstyaviddevouringesurientcovetousenviousjealous

adjectivedesiring or striving for recognition or advancement

Similar
aspirantaspiringambitious
Also see
ambitiousappetentaspirantaspiringathirstavidcovetousdesirousdevouringenviousesurientgreedyhomesickhungryjealousnostalgicthirsty

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From wish + -ful.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian желаещ, кандидатстващ
  • желаещ (želaešt)expressing a wish or longing for something
  • кандидатстващ (kandidatstvašt)aspiring, or seeking advancement
Polish życzeniowy
  • życzeniowyaspiring, or seeking advancement
Scottish Gaelic togarrach
  • togarrachaspiring, or seeking advancement

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with wishful

fishful
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

wishful. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wishful

MLA

“wishful.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wishful. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “wishful,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wishful.

Source: wishful on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.