wish list

noun

: a list of desired but often realistically unobtainable items
a wish list of useful changes

Examples of wish list in a Sentence

That book is on my wish list.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now is the time to officially hit ‘checkout’ on those items on your kitchen wish list. Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 On her wish list are Costa Rica and Vietnam. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 22 June 2026 Designing a small bedroom is less about shrinking your wish list and more about editing it with a curator’s eye. Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 29 June 2026 These align directly with consumers’ wish lists, which are led by live tracking and 24/7 proactive delay notifications. Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wish list

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wish list was in 1970

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wish list.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wish%20list. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

wish list

noun
: a list of desired but often realistically unobtainable items
a wish list of equipment for the school
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster