“Wish” vs. “Hope”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “wish” and “hope”

  • "Wish" is often used to describe a desire for something, while "hope" is a feeling of expectation for something to happen.
  • As nouns, "wish" is typically associated with dreams and aspirations, while "hope" is associated with optimism and confidence.
  • As verbs, "wish" is often used as a polite way to request something, while "hope" is more often used to express a personal desire or expectation.
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What is the definition of “wish” and “hope”?

Wish
  • A feeling of desire or longing for something that may be unlikely to happen.
  • Often associated with faraway dreams and aspirations.
  • Can also be used as a polite expression of request.
Hope
  • A feeling of expectation or desire for a positive outcome or result in the future.
  • A sense of optimism and confidence that the desired outcome will happen.
  • Can also be used as a noun or verb, both with positive connotations.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Hope” is the more popular variant on the web.
Wish
1,900,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I wish I could travel the world and explore different cultures.
  2. Santa said he would grant my wish if I was a good boy.
  3. I wish you had the time to see my ballet performance.
More popular
Hope
1,970,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I have hope that tomorrow will bring better opportunities.
  2. She holds onto the hope that her hard work will pay off in the end.
  3. She hoped the job interview would go well and lead to a new career opportunity.
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