hope

¹

[hohp]

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.

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 ).

Hope

²

[hohp]

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.

hope

¹

/ 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

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

/ 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)

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hope¹

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English hopa; cognate with Dutch hoop, German Hoffe; (verb) Middle English hopen, Old English hopian

Word History and Origins

Origin of hope¹

Old English hopa; related to Old Frisian hope, Dutch hoop, Middle High German hoffe

Idioms and Phrases

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.

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

Example Sentences

The team has successfully demonstrated it works in an animal model of Parkinson's and hopes that in the future this could lead to a treatment that slows the progression of the disease.

Read more on Science Daily

“And now more than ever, we can find comfort and hope in the defining message of Diwali: Light will triumph over darkness and good will triumph over evil.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She adds: "But I hope this is an opportunity that can be built on because the needs are massive."

Read more on BBC

Dolly Parton shared a video on social media on Wednesday, hoping to put fans’ fears about her health to rest.

Read more on Salon

Separately, Smith's government has said it will pitch a pipeline project that would run through neighbouring British Columbia with hopes of finding a private company to back it.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.