hope
noun
the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
were hoping
-
past progressiveof hope.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
It may not be the Wembley showdown most were hoping for, but the British public has spoken.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
One reason storage is so low is that European buyers were hoping the Strait of Hormuz would be open by now, and that Qatari LNG would be back on the market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Film industry advocates were hoping all types of producers would be exempt from the corporate tax cap.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
Firefighters in Greece on Tuesday were hoping to contain a wildfire on the outskirts of Athens burning for a fifth day, with easing winds enabling the use of vital aircraft.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
The agents were hoping to wear Gold down, to confuse him, to make him lose hope.
From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin
