hope

¹ American  

[hohp] / hoʊp /

noun

1. 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

2. a particular instance of this feeling.

   the hope of winning.

3. grounds for this feeling in a particular instance.

   There is little or no hope of his recovery.

4. a person or thing in which expectations are centered.

   The medicine was her last hope.

5. something that is hoped for.

   Her forgiveness is my constant hope.

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verb (used with object)

hoped, hoping

1. to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.

2. to believe, desire, or trust.

   I hope that my work will be satisfactory.

verb (used without object)

hoped, hoping

1. to feel that something desired may happen.

   We hope for an early spring.

2. Archaic. to place trust; rely (usually followed byin ).

idioms

1. hope against hope, to continue to hope, although the outlook does not warrant it.

   We are hoping against hope for a change in her condition.

Hope ² American  

[hohp] / hoʊp /

noun

1. Anthony, pen name of Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins.

2. Bob Leslie Townes Hope, 1903–2003, U.S. comedian, born in England.

3. John, 1868–1936, U.S. educator.

4. a town in SW Arkansas.

5. a female given name.

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hope ¹ British  

/ həʊp /

noun

1. (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

2. a reasonable ground for this feeling

   there is still hope

3. a person or thing that gives cause for hope

4. a thing, situation, or event that is desired

   my hope is that prices will fall

5. used ironically to express little confidence that expectations will be fulfilled

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verb

1. (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

2. to have a wish (for a future event, situation, etc)

3. (tr; takes a clause as object) to trust, expect, or believe

   we hope that this is satisfactory

Hope ² British  

/ həʊp /

noun

1. Anthony, real name Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins. 1863–1933, English novelist; author of The Prisoner of Zenda (1894)

2. 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

3. David ( Michael ). Baron. born 1940, British churchman, Archbishop of York (1995–2005)

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hope More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing hope

• great white hope
• in hopes of
• live in (hope of)
• not a hope in hell
• pin one's hopes on
• while there's life, there's hope

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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

• hoper noun
• hopingly adverb
• self-hope noun
• unhoping adjective
• unhopingly adverb

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."

Example Sentences

The Archbishop of Bamenda, Andrew Nkea, has said the pontiff's visit will bring hope to the people whose lives have been disrupted by the conflict in Cameroon's North-West and South-West regions.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

After a jury on Wednesday found that Ticketmaster owner Live Nation was an illegal monopoly, fans, smaller venues and artist groups expressed hope for a breakup of the concert-ticketing giant.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

If stock prices were totally rational instead of mostly rational then there would be no hope.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Investors have been snapping up space stocks lately in the hope that the Artemis II mission around the moon will kick-start a new era of space exploration.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

I began to give up all hope of seeing him again.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Related Words

• achievement
• ambition
• anticipation
• aspiration
• belief
• concern
• confidence
• desire
• expectation
• faith
• goal
• optimism
• promise
• prospect
• wish