What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Luck vs Wish - What's the difference?

luck | wish |

As a proper noun luck

is .

As a noun wish is

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

As a verb wish is

(label) to desire; to want.

luck

English

Noun

(-)
  • Something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence.
  • The raffle is just a matter of luck .
    Sometimes it takes a bit of luck to get success.
    I couldn't believe my luck when I found a fifty dollar bill on the street.
    Gilbert had some bad luck yesterday — he got pick-pocketed and lost fifty dollars.
  • A superstitious feeling that brings fortune or success.
  • He blew on the dice for luck .
    I wish you lots of luck for the exam tomorrow.
  • success
  • I tried for ages to find a pair of blue suede shoes, but didn't have any luck .
    He has a lot of luck with the ladies, perhaps it is because of his new motorbike.

    Synonyms

    * fortune (both senses)

    Derived terms

    * bad luck * down on one's luck * good luck * luckless * lucky * lucky break * luck out * luck of the draw * luck of the Irish * luck upon * push one's luck * ride one's luck * run of bad luck * sheer luck * streak of good luck

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To succeed by chance.
  • His plan lucked out.
  • To rely on luck.
  • No plan. We're just to going to have to luck through.
  • To carry out relying on luck.
  • Our plan is to luck it through.
    1000 English basic words

    wish

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • a desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen
  • an expression of such a desire etc.
  • the process of expressing or thinking about such a desire etc. (often connected with ideas of magic and supernatural power(s)
  • the thing desired or longed for
  • Your dearest wish will come true.
  • * 1901 , , (w, The Monkey's Paw)
  • "I suppose all old soldiers are the same," said Mrs White. "The idea of our listening to such nonsense! How could wishes be granted in these days? And if they could, how could two hundred pounds hurt you, father?" / "Might drop on his head from the sky," said the frivolous Herbert.
  • (Sussex) a water meadow.
  • Usage notes

    * Collocates with make for the common expression make a wish . See

    Derived terms

    (Terms derived from the noun "wish") * death wish * best wishes * good wishes * make a wish * wishbone * wishful * wish list/wishlist/wish-list * your wish is my command

    See also

    * precatory * velleity

    Verb

    (es)
  • (label) To desire; to want.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • I would not wish / Any companion in the world but you.
  • *
  • , passage=Yesterday, upon the stair / I met a man who wasn’t there / He wasn’t there again today / I wish', I ' wish he’d go away …}}
  • To hope (for a particular outcome).
  • * (John Arbuthnot) (1667-1735)
  • This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wish for.
  • * 1901 , , (w, The Monkey's Paw)
  • Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. "I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact," he said slowly. "It seems to me I've got all I want."
  • To bestow (a thought or gesture) towards (someone or something).
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • I would not wish them to a fairer death.
  • * Bible, (Psalms) xl. 14
  • Let them be driven backward, and put to shame, that wish me evil.
  • To request or desire to do an activity.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)
  • , title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.}}
  • (label) To recommend; to seek confidence or favour on behalf of.
  • * (Ben Jonson)
  • I was wished to your worship by a gentleman.

    Usage notes

    * In sense 3, this is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See

    Derived terms

    (Terms derived from the verb "wish") * as you wish * half wish * I wish * unwish * well-wisher * wisher * you wish