hope
noun
the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
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The word hope comes from which language family?
hope
1 American
[hohp]
/ hoสp /
noun
-
hopes
plural
-
the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
to give up hope.
- Synonyms:
- longing, expectancy, aspiration
-
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.
verb (used with object)
-
hopes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
hoped,
past participle, past
-
hoping
present participle
-
to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.
-
to believe, desire, or trust.
I hope that my work will be satisfactory.
verb (used without object)
-
hopes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
hoped,
past participle, past
-
hoping
present participle
-
to feel that something desired may happen.
We hope for an early spring.
-
Archaic. to place trust; rely (usually followed byin ).
idioms
Hope
2
American
[hohp]
/ hoสp /
noun
-
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.
hope
1
British
/ hษสp /
noun
-
(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
verb
-
(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
Hope
2
British
/ hษสp /
noun
-
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)
hope
More Idioms
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
hopesimple
-
hopessimple
-
have hopedperfect
-
has hopedperfect
-
am hopingprogressive
-
are hopingprogressive
-
is hopingprogressive
-
have been hopingperfect progressive
-
has been hopingperfect progressive
Past
-
hopedsimple
-
had hopedperfect
-
was hopingprogressive
-
were hopingprogressive
-
had been hopingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of hope
First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English hopa; cognate with Dutch hoop, German Hoffe; (verb) Middle English hopen, Old English hopian
Explanation
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."
Vocabulary lists containing hope
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Reports that the College Football Playoff could expand from 12 to 24 teams in 2027 offer new hope for USC and UCLA, neither of which has reached the field.
From Los Angeles Times โ Oct. 20, 2026
"Right now I hope things go our way and we set ourselves to be on the field for the majority of those two days."
From BBC โ Oct. 20, 2026
There was perhaps a glimmer of hope that the accreditation threat might prompt self-reflection.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Oct. 20, 2026
But I’m increasingly trying to separate how I imagine a gathering will look from how I hope it will feel.
From Salon โ Oct. 20, 2026
The thought of a drink of water, and the hope of food, must have given new strength to my aching legs.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
Hope you have a great evening, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!
From Slate โ Oct. 14, 2026
“Metro Mining would need to average roughly 860,000 tons/month across the final three months of 2026 to hit the bottom end of former guidance” of 6.6 million-7.1 million tons, analyst Matthew Hope says.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Oct. 13, 2026
The facility said in a statement Sunday on X that Talarico "has never received treatment from Lindner Center of Hope."
From Barron's โ Oct. 12, 2026
Hope was briefly sparked after a night-flying plane reported a person stoking a large campfire at Davis Lake below Mount Morgan.
From Los Angeles Times โ Oct. 9, 2026
I asked if they’d be interested in participating in the first-ever Celebrate Hope Springs Rally at Griggs’ Rigs Racing.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
But Moses said he hopes that his increase in bar business in late 2025 and throughout 2026 bodes well for the neighborhood and the future of the famous French dip restaurant.
From Los Angeles Times โ Oct. 20, 2026
He was facing prison for fraud and campaign finance violations and was speaking to the FBI in the hopes of reducing his sentence.
From Salon โ Oct. 20, 2026
Importantly, there also were hopes that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent might signal he’s considering cutting the size of auctions for 20- and 30-year Treasurys.
From MarketWatch โ Oct. 19, 2026
Any new deal must be designed the way an engineer designs a part: for the loads it will actually carry, not the ones he hopes for.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Oct. 19, 2026
Penelope suppressed a smile, for she had not yet given up hopes of befriending Lady Constance.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
She said she hoped her journey would inspire others to get involved in groups working to protect the ocean.
From Los Angeles Times โ Oct. 21, 2026
Just as the organizers had hoped, the demonstration caught the attention of users on X and other social-media platforms, where some contrasted the relatively tame demonstration with the more chaotic protests unfolding in Europe.
From MarketWatch โ Oct. 20, 2026
If the military can’t buy as many F-35s or Patriot interceptors as it hoped, it might opt to buy drones and unmanned aircraft, Callan said.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Oct. 20, 2026
At first glance, Trent performed as Fox producers no doubt hoped he might.
From Salon โ Oct. 19, 2026
I forced what I hoped was a friendly smile onto my own face, but it felt stiff and awkward so I stopped.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Those hoping Porto’s will open in other states might have to wait.
From Los Angeles Times โ Oct. 21, 2026
Instead, they signed Blake Grupe, desperately hoping he could patch up their dreadful special teams play.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Oct. 19, 2026
Ap Iorwerth denied offering a quid pro quo to the prime minister, who the Plaid Cymru leader is hoping will give the Cardiff government more powers and funding.
From BBC โ Oct. 19, 2026
The iPhone 18 launch is unlikely to go as well as Apple is hoping, KeyBanc’s Brandon Nispel says.
From Barron's โ Oct. 19, 2026
A boy who lacked discipline, whose family was relieved when he was called to France, hoping that maybe the rigors of the army would smooth out his jagged edges, help him grow up.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
