hope
noun
the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
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hope
1 American
[hohp]
/ hoสp /
noun
-
hopes
plural
-
the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
to give up hope.
- Synonyms:
- longing, expectancy, aspiration
-
a particular instance of this feeling.
the hope of winning.
-
grounds for this feeling in a particular instance.
There is little or no hope of his recovery.
-
a person or thing in which expectations are centered.
The medicine was her last hope.
-
something that is hoped for.
Her forgiveness is my constant hope.
verb (used with object)
-
hopes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
hoped,
past participle, past
-
hoping
present participle
-
to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.
-
to believe, desire, or trust.
I hope that my work will be satisfactory.
verb (used without object)
-
hopes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
hoped,
past participle, past
-
hoping
present participle
-
to feel that something desired may happen.
We hope for an early spring.
-
Archaic. to place trust; rely (usually followed byin ).
idioms
Hope
2
American
[hohp]
/ hoสp /
noun
-
Anthony, pen name of Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins.
-
Bob Leslie Townes Hope, 1903โ2003, U.S. comedian, born in England.
-
John, 1868โ1936, U.S. educator.
-
a town in SW Arkansas.
-
a female given name.
hope
1
British
/ hษสp /
noun
-
(sometimes plural) a feeling of desire for something and confidence in the possibility of its fulfilment
his hope for peace was justified
their hopes were dashed
-
a reasonable ground for this feeling
there is still hope
-
a person or thing that gives cause for hope
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a thing, situation, or event that is desired
my hope is that prices will fall
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used ironically to express little confidence that expectations will be fulfilled
verb
-
(tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to desire (something) with some possibility of fulfilment
we hope you can come
I hope to tell you
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to have a wish (for a future event, situation, etc)
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(tr; takes a clause as object) to trust, expect, or believe
we hope that this is satisfactory
Hope
2
British
/ hษสp /
noun
-
Anthony, real name Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins. 1863โ1933, English novelist; author of The Prisoner of Zenda (1894)
-
Bob, real name Leslie Townes Hope. 1903โ2003, US comedian and comic actor, born in England. His films include The Cat and the Canary (1939), Road to Morocco (1942), and The Paleface (1947). He was awarded an honorary knighthood in 1998
-
David ( Michael ). Baron. born 1940, British churchman, Archbishop of York (1995โ2005)
hope
More Idioms
Usage
What are other ways to say hope?
To hope for something is to look forward to it with desire and reasonable confidence. When should you use this verb over anticipate, expect, or await? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
hopesimple
-
hopessimple
-
have hopedperfect
-
has hopedperfect
-
am hopingprogressive
-
are hopingprogressive
-
is hopingprogressive
-
have been hopingperfect progressive
-
has been hopingperfect progressive
Past
-
hopedsimple
-
had hopedperfect
-
was hopingprogressive
-
were hopingprogressive
-
had been hopingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of hope
First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English hopa; cognate with Dutch hoop, German Hoffe; (verb) Middle English hopen, Old English hopian
Explanation
Hope is something that you want to happen, like your hope to visit Paris this summer, or the feeling that good things will come. If you make it to the final round of a tournament, that gives you hope. Hope can also be a verb that means "strive for or wish," as in your hope to become a doctor someday. To hope is to want something to happen, but if instead you said that you intend to become a doctor, that suggests becoming a doctor is more of a goal than a dream. Hope, on the other hand, is more emotional. In fact, some scholars believe it's linked in meaning to hop, in that someone who hopes "leaps in expectation."
Vocabulary lists containing hope
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
She added: “It’s changed the way I interacted with the electoral process and made me smarter — I hope it does the same to you.”
From Los Angeles Times โ Aug. 12, 2026
A nationwide movement opposing the continued construction of data centers offers some hope, with both Republicans and Democrats noticing the popular sentiment is largely anti-AI.
From Salon โ Aug. 12, 2026
And so-called core prices, which exclude the volatile food and energy categories, rose by 0.2% in July from the previous month, a relatively modest increase offering hope that broader price pressures could be abating.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Aug. 12, 2026
Paris St-Germain aim to start their season as they hope to end it - by winning a European trophy.
From BBC โ Aug. 12, 2026
“I hope you’re proud of yourself, because I sure am.”
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
There’s the Monster Raving Loony Party, established in 1982, which has now run in 11 general elections and is currently headed by someone calling himself Howling Laud Hope.
From Slate โ Aug. 12, 2026
His fellow party candidates are called Baron von Thunderclap and Howling Laud Hope.
From Barron's โ Aug. 11, 2026
"But we should never lose hope. Hope is what keeps the world intact. I always believed his time would come."
From BBC โ Aug. 9, 2026
Further disruption could force Aramco to send more cargoes through the Suez Canal or around the Cape of Good Hope, adding time and transportation costs.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Aug. 4, 2026
Chances are, if you stop a stranger on the street in Hope Springs, they’ll have an opinion about the SmartMart Superstore on I-230 south of town.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
The first two days after an earthquake are crucial for finding survivors under rubble, with some experts saying there is a 72-hour window, after which hopes quickly tail off.
From Barron's โ Aug. 12, 2026
The 19-year-old also says having the AI label will help people make an informed choice about their listening habits, and he hopes it will redirect users to other artists and help level the playing field.
From BBC โ Aug. 12, 2026
Dodgers reliever Will Klein hopes to avoid surgery to remove the loose bodies in his right elbow.
From Los Angeles Times โ Aug. 12, 2026
While China dominates battery manufacturing, Cahn said he hopes Form will emerge as a “national battery champion” for the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Aug. 12, 2026
So, without directions of any sort, the Baudelaire children set off for the city’s banking district in hopes of finding Mr. Poe.
From "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday he hoped more countries would join a defence agreement signed last week between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan aimed at stabilising a region wracked by conflict.
From Barron's โ Aug. 12, 2026
When the Journal told Walker that Aman said it had not called police, he said he hoped that was true and that the information would make him reconsider how the resort had handled the situation.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Aug. 12, 2026
In other situations, I hoped that my studded accessories would communicate to predators that I do not identify as prey.
From Los Angeles Times โ Aug. 12, 2026
Outside the court, Ahmed, 44, welcomed the development, telling reporters that he was a "free man" and that he hoped for "peace".
From BBC โ Aug. 12, 2026
Danny had hoped the bricks turned into a secret doorway like the sleeping giant, but no matter how hard they tried, it wouldn’t give.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Oren Klachkin of Nationwide agreed, saying the data was exactly what "the market was hoping for."
From Barron's โ Aug. 12, 2026
“But the true fans, I’m just hoping, they receive this like we always intended and enjoy the music.”
From Los Angeles Times โ Aug. 12, 2026
Advocates were hoping for stricter requirements for ingredients that companies put into their food before they are reported.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Aug. 11, 2026
"With 600m to go, I knew I was going to win. I was just hoping I was not going to get too tired," Ingebrigtsen told BBC Sport.
From BBC โ Aug. 10, 2026
By the way she tiptoed into the room, she was clearly hoping I was still asleep.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, ยฉ Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritageยฎ Idioms Dictionary copyright ยฉ 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
