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.
to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.
to believe, desire, or trust.
I hope that my work will be satisfactory.
to feel that something desired may happen.
We hope for an early spring.
Archaic. to place trust; rely (usually followed byin ).
Anthony, pen name of Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins.
Bob Leslie Townes Hope, 1903โ2003, U.S. comedian, born in England.
John, 1868โ1936, U.S. educator.
a town in SW Arkansas.
a female given name.
(sometimes plural) a feeling of desire for something and confidence in the possibility of its fulfilment
his hope for peace was justified
their hopes were dashed
a reasonable ground for this feeling
there is still hope
a person or thing that gives cause for hope
a thing, situation, or event that is desired
my hope is that prices will fall
used ironically to express little confidence that expectations will be fulfilled
(tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to desire (something) with some possibility of fulfilment
we hope you can come
I hope to tell you
to have a wish (for a future event, situation, etc)
(tr; takes a clause as object) to trust, expect, or believe
we hope that this is satisfactory
Anthony, real name Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins. 1863โ1933, English novelist; author of The Prisoner of Zenda (1894)
Bob, real name Leslie Townes Hope. 1903โ2003, 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 (1995โ2005)
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.
First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English hopa; cognate with Dutch hoop, German Hoffe; (verb) Middle English hopen, Old English hopian
Hope is something that you want to happen, like your hope to visit Paris this summer, or the feeling that good things will come. If you make it to the final round of a tournament, that gives you hope. Hope can also be a verb that means "strive for or wish," as in your hope to become a doctor someday. To hope is to want something to happen, but if instead you said that you intend to become a doctor, that suggests becoming a doctor is more of a goal than a dream. Hope, on the other hand, is more emotional. In fact, some scholars believe it's linked in meaning to hop, in that someone who hopes "leaps in expectation."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Trying to fill the hope of the Cuban exile is not going to be easy."
From Barron's โ Jul. 29, 2026
Medications that target dopamine receptors offer hope to many suffering from psychotic disorders, but there are serious limits.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Jul. 28, 2026
The teenagers hope a dedicated women's minister would be a member of the Northern Ireland Executive, holding office as a minister within the Executive Office and appointed by the First and Deputy First Ministers.
From BBC โ Jul. 28, 2026
“My hope is that it actually has some of the swagger and fun that people found in ‘Hamilton,’ which also was a very dry subject that you learned about in eighth grade.”
From Los Angeles Times โ Jul. 28, 2026
“The funeral was a week ago, so I hope so. There’s something I need to give him. Besides, I’m sure the office needs my attention. All that paperwork isn’t going to take care of itself.”
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
The trip from Sidi Kerir through the Mediterranean Sea, around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and out to Asia adds some 20 to 30 days to voyages, depending on their final destination in Asia.
From MarketWatch โ Jul. 29, 2026
Unlike Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, or Hope and Crosby, who relied on tightly scripted setups, this disparate yet kindred duo captured America’s heart by being viscerally, uproariously and unpredictably wild.
From Los Angeles Times โ Jul. 25, 2026
She now works to empower other women after setting up the charity Women's Health Hope.
From BBC โ Jul. 19, 2026
Hope for a political settlement to the war has fallen by the wayside, though mediators have attempted to bring both sides back to the negotiating table.
From Barron's โ Jul. 18, 2026
Hope for you coming back from Canada, hope for me and the Pickled Onion getting along.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Riley also added a Hall of Fame coach at defensive coordinator in hopes of stabilizing matters on that side of the ball.
From Los Angeles Times โ Jul. 28, 2026
Monday’s announcement appeared to leave investors uneasy as well, following hopes that the worst of the culture-war fallout from the logo change was in the rearview.
From MarketWatch โ Jul. 28, 2026
Sam hopes to attract those who, like himself, felt the pangs of an infamous monster collecting game when using Merlin to ID and save their bird sightings.
From BBC โ Jul. 27, 2026
That’s not great news for a woman like Waters who hopes, probably sincerely, that men and women can get past differences in the interest of getting that birth rate up.
From Salon โ Jul. 27, 2026
It is Ward, so like and yet so unlike your father, who has cured me of my false hopes.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Meanwhile, oil futures prices fell further on Tuesday as investors hoped for deals that could prompt a return of Strait of Hormuz shipping.
From MarketWatch โ Jul. 29, 2026
When the semis trade started to wobble late last month, many analysts on Wall Street initially hoped the pain would be short-lived.
From MarketWatch โ Jul. 28, 2026
Sandy McCook, Nethy Bridge Community Council chairman, said it was hoped rain that has been falling since Monday night would make a "huge difference".
From BBC โ Jul. 28, 2026
He reorganized his force, then began to lead the Greeks northward following paths they hoped would lead toward the Black Sea, nearly 1,000 miles distant.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Jul. 27, 2026
By making her tóshchíín, he hoped she might be tempted to eat and regain her strength.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Initially, Leipzig intended to keep him for another year, hoping his market value would increase even further, but the demand was simply too high.
From BBC โ Jul. 29, 2026
The US is carrying out its own lunar exploration program, hoping to beat China to the punch.
From Barron's โ Jul. 28, 2026
Historically, hoping that an absolute power will benevolently provide for humanity if sufficiently enlightened hasn’t led to safe or positive outcomes.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Jul. 28, 2026
Talley said he found Trujillo’s testimony to be “compelling and truthful,” unlike his statement from 2014 when he was hoping to get a reduced sentence.
From Los Angeles Times โ Jul. 28, 2026
Russell had once mentioned that people lined up outside hoping to be cast as extras.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, ยฉ Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritageยฎ Idioms Dictionary copyright ยฉ 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
