hopeful

[ hohp-fuhl ]

/ ˈhoʊp fəl /

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See synonyms for: hopeful / hopefuls / hopefulness 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR hopeful

1 expectant; sanguine, optimistic, confident.

See synonyms for hopeful on Thesaurus.com

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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.

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Origin of hopeful

First recorded in 1560–70; hope + -ful

OTHER WORDS FROM hopeful

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

Words nearby hopeful

hope, hope against hope, Hope, Bob, hope chest, Hope diamond, hopeful, hopefully, hopeful monster, Hopeh, hopeless, hopelessness

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

How to use hopeful in a sentence

She’s hopeful the project will help us better understand why we don’t talk about sex and sexual health publicly—and, ideally, start to walk back puritanical norms about bodies and appropriateness.
A New Podcast Explores Sex in the Great Outdoors|Heather Hansman|February 12, 2021|Outside Online
I believe that we will see a time — I’m hopeful in my daughter’s lifetime and I pray that I’m around to see it — that women are protected in the Constitution.
Actress, Mother, Activist Alyssa Milano on Life as a Triple Threat|Esabelle Lee|February 11, 2021|Ozy
Asked to share their approach to an uncertain future, four media executives said they remain hopeful for a partial return this year, but that policies will emphasize patience, caution and flexibility to employees’ varying needs and comfort levels.
Publishers look to allay employee fears over a return to the office by offering additional flexibility|Jessica Davies|February 10, 2021|Digiday
The engineer working on Google Search Console was great, and heard me out, but I didn’t leave that conversation feeling we would see an API any time soon… although I was hopeful we might see one in the future.
Quest for more coverage: Making a case for larger exports from Google Search Console’s Coverage reporting|Glenn Gabe|February 9, 2021|Search Engine Land

We’re hopeful Johnson & Johnson will recognize they are making this vaccine here in Baltimore and it would be a shame if Baltimoreans didn’t directly benefit from it.
Officials in D.C. region try to combat vaccine hesitancy while seeking more doses|Jenna Portnoy, Rebecca Tan, Michael Brice-Saddler|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
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
In our screenings, he always sits in the same corner chair and always looks hopeful, no matter what the movie.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The conclusion is reached that, despite these drawbacks, the Jesuit mission in Canada has made a hopeful beginning.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
“A hopeful family yours, Mr. Trotter,” said Perker, sealing a letter which he had just finished writing.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
The feeling is hopeful if only we had more men and especially drafts to fill up our weakened battalions.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
She reminded him as she stood there then, of a serious young literary woman, and he was made hopeful by her visit.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
He had a hopeful, sunny nature, and never looked upon the dark side of things if he could help it.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond

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 forms of hopeful

hopefulness, 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

hopeful

OTHER WORDS FOR hopeful

Origin of hopeful

OTHER WORDS FROM hopeful

Words nearby hopeful

Words related to hopeful

How to use hopeful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hopeful

Derived forms of hopeful