Cool MateDesire vs Feel like vs Wish
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Desire
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Feel like
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Wish
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
| Desire | Feel like | Wish | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈzaɪə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈzaɪər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //fiːl laɪk//🇺🇸 //fil laɪk// | 🇬🇧 /["/wɪʃ/","/ˈwɪʃɪz/","/wɪʃt/","/ˈwɪʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɪʃ/","/ˈwɪʃɪz/","/wɪʃt/","/ˈwɪʃɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A strong wish for something. | to have a particular emotion or desire | A desire or hope for something to happen. |
| Example | Her desire to travel the world consumed her thoughts daily. | I feel like going for a walk today. | I wish I could travel to Paris this summer. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb | |
| Collocations | burning, deep, fervent, feel, harbour/harbor, have, desire for, an object of desire, burning, deep, fervent, feel, harbour/harbor, have, desire for, an object of desire | feel like going, feel like doing, feel like eating, feel like talking, feel like relaxing | dearly, desperately, devoutly, for, dearly, desperately, devoutly, for |
| Antonyms | dislike, aversion, indifference | dislike, refuse, avoid | despair, regret, discontent |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'want' — 'desire' is stronger., Using 'desire' without an object — it needs something to be desired., Misplacing the stress in pronunciation. | Confusing with 'feel as if', Using with a full infinitive instead of gerund, Omitting 'like' in some phrases | Confused with 'want' — 'wish' indicates a stronger hope., Using 'wished' instead of 'wish' for future situations., Mixing up the past and present forms incorrectly. |
| Usage notes | Used in both spoken and written English. It's appropriate in neutral contexts but might feel too strong or formal in casual conversations. Phrases like 'a desire to travel' are common. | Often used casually to express desires or mood. Less formal than 'wish to' or 'would like to'. | Used to express a desire for something that is unlikely or impossible. Common in informal contexts; less appropriate in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Desire vs Feel like vs Wish
What's the difference between Desire, Feel like, and Wish?
Desire: A strong wish for something. Feel like: to have a particular emotion or desire Wish: A desire or hope for something to happen.
Which is more advanced: Desire, Feel like, and Wish?
Desire is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Desire: Her desire to travel the world consumed her thoughts daily. Feel like: I feel like going for a walk today. Wish: I wish I could travel to Paris this summer.
Can I use Desire, Feel like, and Wish interchangeably?
Not always. Desire, Feel like, and Wish are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.