Phrase guide

wishing well

noun · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈwɪʃɪŋ wɛl/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A well where, traditionally, wishes were thought to be granted, especially if coins were dropped into the water.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

present participle and gerund of wish well

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 許願井 /许愿井 (xǔyuànjǐng) — well where wishes were thought to be granted
  • Finnish: toivomuskaivo — well where wishes were thought to be granted
  • French: puits à souhaits — well where wishes were thought to be granted
  • German: Wunschbrunnen — well where wishes were thought to be granted
  • Irish: tobar rúin — well where wishes were thought to be granted
  • Mongolian: хүслийн худаг (xüsliin xudag) — well where wishes were thought to be granted
  • Persian: چاه آرزو (čâh-e ârezu) — well where wishes were thought to be granted
  • Polish: studnia życzeń — well where wishes were thought to be granted
  • Portuguese: poço dos desejos — well where wishes were thought to be granted
  • Spanish: pozo de los deseos — well where wishes were thought to be granted
  • Swedish: önskebrunn — well where wishes were thought to be granted