ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wishing

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈwɪʃɪŋ// UK //wˈɪʃɪŋ// wish·ing

n. the act of hoping for something that is not likely to happen. It is often used to describe thoughts that are not based on reality.

n. the act of desiring or hoping for something, often in a manner that lacks practical grounding or realistic expectation. Frequently used in the compound 'wishful thinking' to describe beliefs based on desire rather than evidence.


SIMPLE

Success requires hard work, not just wishing.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager dismissed the proposal as mere wishing, noting that there was no budget to support such a large project.

COMPLEX

While some critics viewed the peace treaty as a product of naive wishing, others argued that it provided the necessary psychological framework for future negotiations.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From wish + -ing.

Usage

Often functions as a gerund; frequently appears in the fixed expression 'wishful thinking'.

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