optimist

American  

[op-tuh-mist] / ˈɒp tə mɪst /

noun

1. an optimistic person.

2. a person who holds the belief or the doctrine of optimism.

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Other Word Forms

• antioptimist noun
• overoptimist noun
• superoptimist noun

Etymology

Origin of optimist

First recorded in 1760–70; from French optimiste, from Latin optim(um) ( see optimum) + French -iste -ist

Explanation

An optimist is someone who always sees the bright side of any situation — a trait that can be either encouraging or annoying, depending on your frame of mind. Winston Churchill once said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” When you think about the problems in the world, it might sometimes be difficult to remain an optimist. Yet some people just naturally look for the silver lining, like Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh stories who, when admitting that it's still snowing and freezing, remarks, "However, we haven't had an earthquake lately." Now that's an optimist!

Example Sentences

"I was born an optimist," he told me.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

But the eternal optimist said he draws strength from the example set by Glover: "He's a natural American hero, in my opinion."

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Askell describes herself as an optimist but still sees risks that society’s checks and balances may get overwhelmed by AI advancements.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

He describes himself as a “long-term optimist but a short-term pessimist.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2025

Call me an optimist, but I’ll never give up hope that my family will take my art—and me—seriously.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

Related Words

• dreamer
• idealist