hopeful

American  

[hohp-fuhl] / ˈhoʊp fəl /

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.

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noun

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

   the Democratic presidential hopeful.

hopeful British  

/ ˈhəʊpfʊl /

adjective

1. having or expressing hope

2. giving or inspiring hope; promising

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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

Etymology

Origin of hopeful

First recorded in 1560–70; hope + -ful

Example Sentences

Investors rode into 2026 hopeful that a cocktail of lower interest rates, tax breaks, easing inflation and tariff clarity would loosen up consumer spending.

From MarketWatch

Wine remains a thorn in the government's side, and his supporters remain hopeful.

From Barron's

Second, they are hopeful that the economy can improve from here, thanks in part to reduced trade policy uncertainty and the lagged impact of last year’s tax cuts.

From The Wall Street Journal

The sentiments were more hopeful than one might expect, given how it’s so easy to succumb to despair right now.

From Los Angeles Times

"I am hopeful that the payment of the substantial sums will enable him to do that and to support himself when he's in the outside world."

From BBC

Related Words

• cheerful
• encouraging
• exciting
• favorable
• fortunate
• good
• gracious
• likely
• pleasant
• probable
• reasonable
• reassuring
• rosy