hopeful

[ hohp-fuhl ]

/ ˈhoʊp fəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hopeful ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

full of hope; expressing hope: His hopeful words stimulated optimism.

exciting hope; promising advantage or success: a hopeful prospect.

noun

a person who shows promise or aspires to success: the Democratic presidential hopeful.

Nearby words

Origin of hopeful

First recorded in 1560–70; hope + -ful

SYNONYMS FOR hopeful

1 expectant; sanguine, optimistic, confident.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hopeful ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formshope·ful·ness, nounun·hope·ful, adjectiveun·hope·ful·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hopeful

Is there any chance the potential 2016 hopeful will stand up to the right and embrace paid sick leave?
Christie Blames Parents for Bad Economy|Monica Potts|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He remained as hopeful as ever that he would himself join the NYPD, whatever the danger.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Foxx is hopeful that young people are evolving past the point of being preoccupied with race.
Jamie Foxx: Get Over the Black ‘Annie’|Stereo Williams|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But assuming things were ever that hopeful, heaven was short-lived, and trouble followed.
The Sydney Astrologer Turned Islamic Radical|Jacob Siegel|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Bright-eyed and hopeful, she had become a national celebrity in her home country, even appearing on a TV variety show.
The Shocking Death of Miss Honduras|Romina Ruiz-Goiriena|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With a smile, and many renewed expressions of thankfulness, the hopeful tradesman paid his penny.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. III, No. XVII, October 1851|Various
Hopeful as youth, careless as the wind, it sang in gladness and in trust.
Told in a French Garden|Mildred Aldrich
"I am glad you are so hopeful," he said; and he went off into his laboratory.
The Squire's Daughter|Silas K(itto) Hocking
But that morrow came at last, and with it rose Oliver, strengthened and hopeful once more for the trial that lay before him.
The Fifth Form at Saint Dominic's|Talbot Baines Reed
Some of these people were returning, but most of them pressed on, hopeful of striking some spot that was awaiting them.
Klondike Nuggets|E. S. Ellis

British Dictionary definitions for hopeful

hopeful

/ (ˈhəʊpfʊl) /

adjective

having or expressing hope

giving or inspiring hope; promising

noun

a person considered to be on the brink of success (esp in the phrase a young hopeful)

Derived Formshopefulness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for hopeful

hopeful

adj.

c.1200, from hope + -ful. As a noun, "one on whom hopes are set," from 1720. Related: Hopefulness.

hopeful

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of hopeful

Examples from the Web for hopeful

British Dictionary definitions for hopeful

hopeful

adjective

noun

Word Origin and History for hopeful

hopeful