-ish

¹

1. a suffix used to form adjectives from nouns, with the sense of “belonging to” ( British; Danish; English; Spanish ); “after the manner of,” “having the characteristics of,” “like” ( babyish; girlish; mulish ); “addicted to,” “inclined or tending to” ( bookish; freakish ); “near or about” ( fiftyish; sevenish ).
2. a suffix used to form adjectives from other adjectives, with the sense of “somewhat,” “rather” ( oldish; reddish; sweetish ).

-ish

²

1. a suffix occurring in i -stem verbs borrowed from French:

   ravish.

ish

³

[ ish ]

adverb

, Informal.

1. (used to modify or moderate something previously stated or as a vague reply to a question) somewhat; in a way; not exactly: “Are you tired?” “Yeah...ish.”

   It's a decent (ish) place to work.

   “Are you tired?” “Yeah...ish.”

   I'd like to get married. Ish.

2. near or about; approximately: It'll be a $25ish taxi ride.

   The lights went out at 11-ish.

   It'll be a $25ish taxi ride.

ish

¹

/ ɪʃ /

sentence substitute

1. slang.
   used to express reservation or qualified assent

   Things are looking up. Ish

-ish

²

suffix forming adjectives

1. of or belonging to a nationality or group

   Scottish

2. derogatory.
   having the manner or qualities of; resembling

   prudish

   boyish

   slavish

3. somewhat; approximately

   sevenish

   yellowish

4. concerned or preoccupied with

   bookish

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ish¹

Middle English; Old English -isc; cognate with German -isch, Old Norse -iskr, Gothic -isks, Greek diminutive noun suffix -isk(os); akin to -esque

Origin of -ish²

From French -iss-, extended stem of verbs with infinitives in -ir, ultimately from Latin -isc-, in verbs that express the beginning of an action or process

Origin of -ish³

First recorded in 1985–90; from -ish ¹( def ) (in the sense “somewhat”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of -ish¹

Old English -isc; related to German -isch, Greek -iskos

Example Sentences

We need this Super-ish Bowl, but more than that, we desperately need a clearer pathway to the safe resumption of all the smaller events — on fields of play, at parks, in stores — that allow folks to gather and feel a sense of belonging.

From Washington Post

Include a rotisserie chicken and a bagged salad, “and you have an easy-ish meal, plus groceries all done,” she says.

From Washington Post

It’s by the National Institutes of Health’s Kevin Hall, the same scientist who found that people eating ultra-processed food ate 500 calories more per day than people eating a diet of whole-ish foods.

From Washington Post

Even at a modest software-ish multiple, the company would be worth more than the $3 billion figure that we discussed before.

From TechCrunch

Amidst all this, pilots had to don astronaut-ish suits, with their own temperature and pressure controls and oxygen supplies.

From Popular-Science

As this list shows, punishments typically run to a short-ish jail sentence and/or a moderately hefty fine.

From The Daily Beast

Great for convincing your co-workers to DVR Black-ish while at work.

From The Daily Beast

I know that one day in the near (ish) future, we will return to our usual hikes and bike rides.

From The Daily Beast

Vulture wrote a helpful-ish explainer about how to make sure you see it.

From The Daily Beast

But as perfect a pairing as Trophy Wife was with Modern Family, black-ish is, too.

From The Daily Beast

If it ish true dat de closhe makes de man, you vill do excellent vell, and de people vill not now run after you.

From Project Gutenberg

Der ish pottles de Kaiser CharlemagneVonce filled mit gold-red wine!

From Project Gutenberg

Where ish de himmelstrablende Stern—De shtar of de shpirit's light?

From Project Gutenberg

Where ish de lofely golden cloudDat float on de moundain's prow?

From Project Gutenberg

Such an Adam and Eve-ish state of things we never saw before.

From Project Gutenberg