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# wishful

adjective (wishful)

«wishful» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Wanting or hoping for something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wishful/#m1)
2. "Wishful thinking" means believing that something is true or will happen only because you want it to, not because it is likely. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wishful/#m2)

### In the lessons

Mostly heard in "wishful thinking": "Thinking there won't be homework this weekend is wishful thinking." It warns that a hope is not based on facts. In stories it can describe a hopeful look: "a wishful glance at the cake". Phrases: "wishful thinking", "a wishful look".

### Examples

- Hoping the test will be cancelled is just wishful thinking. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wishful/#x1)
- He gave a wishful look at the toy in the shop window. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wishful/#x2)
- Thinking our team will win 10–0 is wishful thinking. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wishful/#x3)
- "Maybe it'll snow on Christmas Day," she said in a wishful voice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wishful/#x4)
- Believing the homework will do itself is wishful thinking. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wishful/#x5)
- The dog gave a wishful glance at my sandwich. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wishful/#x6)

### Note

Adjective from "wish" plus -ful (one l). Adverb: wishfully. In science and maths, wishful thinking is a trap: check the facts and evidence instead of believing what you want.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «wishful» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wishful/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«wishful» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wishful.html) on Mova free.