hopeful

[hohp-fuhl]

adjective

1. full of hope; expressing hope.

   His hopeful words stimulated optimism.

   Synonyms: confident, optimistic, sanguine, expectant

2. exciting hope; promising advantage or success.

   a hopeful prospect.

noun

1. a person who shows promise or aspires to success.

   the Democratic presidential hopeful.

hopeful

/ ˈhəʊpfʊl /

adjective

1. having or expressing hope

2. giving or inspiring hope; promising

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• hopefulness noun
• unhopeful adjective
• unhopefully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hopeful¹

First recorded in 1560–70; hope + -ful

Example Sentences

Witkoff left uncertain where things stood, but hopeful talks would accelerate soon.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Looking at some of the young people supported by The Damilola Taylor Trust over more than two decades — determined, ambitious and hopeful — it is clear that this wish is being fulfilled.

Read more on BBC

Ms Burns, who has her own business and works weekends to support her family, said she was hopeful she could now begin "putting money aside for the kids".

Read more on BBC

"I'm hopeful the chancellor will do the right thing on child benefit."

Read more on BBC

"He was very close for the previous game so we are hopeful that tomorrow he can be in the squad," Arteta told reporters on Tuesday.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• cheerful 
• encouraging www.thesaurus.com
• exciting 
• favorable 
• fortunate 
• good 
• gracious 
• likely 
• pleasant 
• probable 
• reasonable 
• reassuring 
• rosy