hope

[ hohp ]

/ hoʊp /

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noun

the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: to give up hope.

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), hoped, hop·ing.

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), hoped, hop·ing.

to feel that something desired may happen: We hope for an early spring.

Archaic. to place trust; rely (usually followed by in).

OTHER WORDS FOR hope

1 aspiration, expectancy, longing.

See synonyms for hope on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about hope

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.

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

OTHER WORDS FROM hope

hop·er, nounhop·ing·ly, adverbself-hope, nounun·hop·ing, adjective

un·hop·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby hope

hooves, hop, hopak, Hopatcong, hop clover, hope, hope against hope, Hope, Bob, hope chest, Hope diamond, hopeful

Other definitions for hope (2 of 2)

Hope

[ 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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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.

How to use hope in a sentence

The hope is to get them to start heeding the principles in their products and influence other companies and organizations to do the same.
Why kids need special protection from AI’s influence|Karen Hao|September 17, 2020|MIT Technology Review
“You cannot gas the company and throw unlimited resources at problems and hope for the best, which a lot of startups do and this one did as well,” he says.
Meet Snowflake, one of the buzziest tech IPOs ever|Aaron Pressman|September 15, 2020|Fortune
Not really, because the substitute for Kodak was so radically different, in Instagram, as a way of sharing memories and photos, that they probably had no hope.
What if Your Company Had No Rules? (Bonus Episode)|Maria Konnikova|September 12, 2020|Freakonomics
That may be ambitious rhetoric, pinning a lot of hope on what a digital version might do for the yuan’s global standing.
The same problems plaguing the yuan will plague China’s digital currency|Mary Hui|September 10, 2020|Quartz

The hope is that all those activations help turn Amazon into a branding channel for Buick, whether it’s targeted ads in cars, on the marketplace or on Amazon Fire TV.
‘Amazon is a brand play for us’: How Buick is building a long-term partnership around Amazon’s ad business|Seb Joseph|September 10, 2020|Digiday
The hope was that greater transparency about performance would drive results.
The ‘No Child’ Rewrite Threatens Your Kids’ Future|Jonah Edelman|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Speaking to a local radio station today Antonella Ramelli said the video gives her hope.
Jihadis Release New Year’s Eve Video of Italian Female Hostages|Jamie Dettmer, Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“The closer we get to ‘16, the tougher it’s going to be, so I hope we start quickly,” he said.
Can This Republican Bring the GOP Back to Its Senses on Immigration?|Tim Mak|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“We hope that the aircraft is found quickly, and we can find out the cause of what has happened,” he said.
The Presumed Crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Is Nothing Like MH370|Lennox Samuels|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now imagine that one day hope appeared, an unexpected opportunity to free yourself, to finally be yourself.
The Insurance Company Promised a Gender Reassignment. Then They Made a Mistake.|James Joiner|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Joe looked at her with a smile, his face still solemn and serious for all its youth and the fires of new-lit hope behind his eyes.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
There was no doubt thought of his own loss in this question: yet there was, one may hope, a germ of solicitude for the mother too.
Children's Ways|James Sully
But I hope at least to play to him a few times, and what is more important, to hear him play repeatedly.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
"I hope you don't think I speak always to strangers, like that," said the girl in the rose hat.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
You don't mind staying here in the sunshine, I hope, while my coat dries?
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for hope (1 of 2)

hope

/ (həʊp) /

noun

(sometimes plural) a feeling of desire for something and confidence in the possibility of its fulfilmenthis hope for peace was justified; their hopes were dashed

a reasonable ground for this feelingthere is still hope

a person or thing that gives cause for hope

a thing, situation, or event that is desiredmy hope is that prices will fall

not a hope or some hope 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 fulfilmentwe hope you can come; I hope to tell you

(intr often foll by for) to have a wish (for a future event, situation, etc)

(tr; takes a clause as object) to trust, expect, or believewe hope that this is satisfactory

Derived forms of hope

hoper, noun

Word Origin for hope

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

British Dictionary definitions for hope (2 of 2)

Hope

/ (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)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with hope

hope

In addition to the idioms beginning with hope

hope against hope
hope springs eternal

also see:

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

hope

OTHER WORDS FOR hope

Idioms about hope

Origin of hope

OTHER WORDS FROM hope

Words nearby hope

Other definitions for hope (2 of 2)

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say hope?

Words related to hope

How to use hope in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hope (1 of 2)

Derived forms of hope

Word Origin for hope

British Dictionary definitions for hope (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with hope