hope
noun
the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
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The word hope comes from which language family?
hope
1 American
[hohp]
/ hoʊp /
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]
/ hoʊp /
noun
-
Anthony, pen name of Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins.
-
Bob Leslie Townes Hope, 1903–2003, U.S. comedian, born in England.
-
John, 1868–1936, U.S. educator.
-
a town in SW Arkansas.
-
a female given name.
hope
1
British
/ həʊp /
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
-
a thing, situation, or event that is desired
my hope is that prices will fall
-
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
-
to have a wish (for a future event, situation, etc)
-
(tr; takes a clause as object) to trust, expect, or believe
we hope that this is satisfactory
Hope
2
British
/ həʊp /
noun
-
Anthony, real name Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins. 1863–1933, English novelist; author of The Prisoner of Zenda (1894)
-
Bob, real name Leslie Townes Hope. 1903–2003, 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 (1995–2005)
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:
"You'll be helping restore hope and dignity to people facing hardship and providing one of your neighbours with their next meal at what should be one of the happiest times of year."
From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2026
The findings also offer hope for addressing their elevated risk of developing knee osteoarthritis at an unusually young age.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 14, 2026
So what do you hope viewers take away from the film?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2026
Welsh rugby has been in the doldrums for so long, on and off the field, but will hope this famous victory can help galvanise the nation.
From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2026
His only hope was that her impending wrath would not last long.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
This he found in New Hope, Pa., where he settled after his early release in 1943 and immediately began making his distinctive furniture.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2026
"Hope is that with checks and balances some confidence will come back in the US system," said a second senior EU diplomat.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026
Muir was pinged as the experienced Hope Rogers grappled for set-piece supremacy.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Continued attacks on vessels in the Red Sea have forced Saudi crude shipments onto longer routes, primarily through the Suez Canal and around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing transportation costs and delivery times.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Hope and boldness must go hand in hand.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
If he gets acute leukemia after 75, which can be hard to cure at that age, he’s not interested in pursuing chemotherapy in the hopes of gaining a few more months.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2026
When Malard asks what Bompastor hopes she will achieve this season, the Chelsea boss sets her a clear challenge.
From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2026
Cleveland hopes to continue its success in fall sports in the Division I final at 4 p.m. against King/Drew.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 14, 2026
If brain activity can shift toward patterns associated with vulnerability, Zhang hopes future treatments might also encourage it to move toward greater resilience.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 14, 2026
"You were the one they pinned all their hopes on."
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
It is hoped the sculptures will then be sold a fundraising auction at the end of the summer.
From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026
Construction worker Mark Vixama, 47, said he hoped there would be repercussions for whoever is responsible -- adding that the community would be scarred for years to come.
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2026
Schiebe stressed however that management still hoped for a breakthrough in talks and that "we want the next generations of vehicles to also be built at our German locations".
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2026
Other than the Dodgers’ National League Championship Series exit, the three-month fling was as happy of a partnership as either side could have hoped.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026
“It’s a peace offering. You know, for before,” I said, flapping a hand that I hoped encompassed twelve years of general rudeness and animosity.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
“I’m hoping AXS” — the event’s official ticket vendor— “can give some refund back.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 14, 2026
Campbell decided to revisit the original excavation evidence, hoping that modern forensic techniques could reveal clues that had escaped investigators a century earlier.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 14, 2026
He decided the safer bet was to send his team home and have them get some sleep, instead of hoping that the stop is lifted late at night.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2026
United will be hoping that Pochettino's arrival will persuade Fernandes to commit his future to the club.
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2026
I smiled as broadly as I could, and I joined in the breakfast conversation, and I swallowed down my dark thoughts with my dry toast, hoping that neither would choke me.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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