Wish vs. Regret

Wishnoun

A desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen.

Regretverb

To feel sorry about (a thing that has or has not happened), afterthink: to wish that a thing had not happened, that something else had happened instead.

‘He regretted his words.’;

Wishnoun

An expression of such a desire, often connected with ideas of magic and supernatural power.

Regretverb

(more generally) To feel sorry about (any thing).

‘I regret that I have to do this, but I don't have a choice.’;

Wishnoun

The thing desired or longed for.

‘My dearest wish is to see them happily married.’;

Regretnoun

Emotional pain on account of something done or experienced in the past, with a wish that it had been different; a looking back with dissatisfaction or with longing.

Wishnoun

(Sussex) A water meadow.

Regretnoun

(obsolete) Dislike; aversion.

Wishverb

(transitive) To desire; to want.

‘I'll come tomorrow, if you wish it.’;

Regretnoun

Pain of mind on account of something done or experienced in the past, with a wish that it had been different; a looking back with dissatisfaction or with longing; grief; sorrow; especially, a mourning on account of the loss of some joy, advantage, or satisfaction.

‘What man does not remember with regret the first time he read Robinson Crusoe?’; ‘Never any prince expressed a more lively regret for the loss of a servant.’; ‘From its peaceful bosom [the grave] spring none but fond regrets and tender recollections.’;

Wishverb

To hope (for a particular outcome).

Regretnoun

Dislike; aversion.

Wishverb

(ditransitive) To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something).

‘We wish you a Merry Christmas.’;

Regretverb

To experience regret on account of; to lose or miss with a sense of regret; to feel sorrow or dissatisfaction on account of (the happening or the loss of something); as, to regret an error; to regret lost opportunities or friends.

‘Calmly he looked on either life, and hereSaw nothing to regret, or there to fear.’; ‘In a few hours they [the Israelites] began to regret their slavery, and to murmur against their leader.’; ‘Recruits who regretted the plow from which they had been violently taken.’;

Wishverb

To request or desire to do an activity.

Regretnoun

sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment;

‘he drank to drown his sorrows’; ‘he wrote a note expressing his regret’; ‘to his rue, the error cost him the game’;

Wishverb

(transitive) To recommend; to seek confidence or favour on behalf of.

Regretverb

feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about

Wishverb

To have a desire or yearning; to long; to hanker.

‘They cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.’; ‘This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for.’;

Regretverb

feel sad about the loss or absence of

Wishverb

To desire; to long for; to hanker after; to have a mind or disposition toward.

‘I would not wishAny companion in the world but you.’; ‘I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper.’;

Regretverb

decline formally or politely;

‘I regret I can't come to the party’;

Wishverb

To frame or express desires concerning; to invoke in favor of, or against, any one; to attribute, or cal down, in desire; to invoke; to imprecate.

‘I would not wish them to a fairer death.’; ‘I wish it may not prove some ominous foretoken of misfortune to have met with such a miser as I am.’; ‘Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil.’;

Regretverb

be sorry;

‘I regret to say that you did not gain admission to Harvard’;

Wishverb

To recommend; to seek confidence or favor in behalf of.

‘I would be glad to thrive, sir,And I was wished to your worship by a gentleman.’;

Regretverb

feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that one has done or failed to do)

‘she immediately regretted her words’; ‘I always regretted that I never trained’;

Wishnoun

Desire; eager desire; longing.

‘Behold, I am according to thy wish in God a stead.’;

Regretverb

used in polite formulas to express apology for or sadness over something undesirable

‘we regret that no tickets may be exchanged’; ‘any inconvenience to readers is regretted’;

Wishnoun

Expression of desire; request; petition; hence, invocation or imprecation.

‘Blistered be thy tongue for such a wish.’;

Regretverb

feel sorrow for the loss or absence of (something pleasant)

‘my home, when shall I cease to regret you!’;

Wishnoun

A thing desired; an object of desire.

‘Will he, wise, let loose at once his ire . . . To give his enemies their wish!’;

Regretnoun

a feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over an occurrence or something that one has done or failed to do

‘he had to decline, to his regret’; ‘she expressed her regret at Virginia's death’;

Wishnoun

a specific feeling of desire;

‘he got his wish’; ‘he was above all wishing and desire’;

Regretnoun

used in polite formulas to express apology for or sadness at an occurrence or an inability to accept an invitation

‘please give your grandmother my regrets’;

Wishnoun

an expression of some desire or inclination;

‘I could tell that it was his wish that the guests leave’; ‘his crying was an indirect request for attention’;

Regret

Regret is the emotion of wishing one had made a different decision in the past, because the consequences of the decision were unfavorable. Regret is related to perceived opportunity.

Wishnoun

(usually plural) a polite expression of desire for someone's welfare;

‘give him my kind regards’; ‘my best wishes’;

Wishnoun

the particular preference that you have;

‘it was his last wish’; ‘they should respect the wishes of the people’;

Wishverb

hope for; have a wish;

‘I wish I could go home now’;

Wishverb

prefer or wish to do something;

‘Do you care to try this dish?’; ‘Would you like to come along to the movies?’;

Wishverb

have in mind;

‘I will take the exam tomorrow’;

Wishverb

make or express a wish;

‘I wish that Christmas were over’;

Wishverb

feel or express a desire or hope concerning the future or fortune of

Wishverb

order politely; express a wish for

Wishverb

invoke upon;

‘wish you a nice evening’; ‘bid farewell’;

Wishverb

feel or express a strong desire or hope for something that cannot or probably will not happen

‘he wished that he had practised the routines’; ‘we wished for peace’;

Wishverb

express a hope that (someone) enjoys (happiness or success)

‘they wish her every success’;

Wishverb

want to do something

‘they wish to become involved’;

Wishverb

want (something) to be done or happen

‘I wish it to be clearly understood’;

Wishverb

want (someone) to do or have something

‘Anne wishes me to visit her’;

Wishverb

hope that (someone) has to deal with someone or something undesirable

‘he wouldn't wish Arthur on anyone’;

Wishnoun

a desire or hope for something to happen

‘the union has reiterated its wish for an agreement’; ‘her wish to be a mother’;

Wishnoun

an expression of a desire, typically in the form of a request or instruction

‘she must carry out her late father's wishes’;

Wishnoun

an invocation or recitation of a hope or desire

‘he makes a wish’;

Wishnoun

an expression of a hope for someone's success, happiness, or welfare

‘the Queen had sent her best wishes for a speedy recovery’;

Wishnoun

a thing that is or has been wished for

‘the petitioners eventually got their wish’;

Wish

A wish is a hope or desire for something. In fiction, wishes can be used as plot devices.