hopeful

[ hohp-fuhl ]

See synonyms for hopeful 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.

Origin of hopeful

First recorded in 1560–70; hope + -ful

Other words for hopeful

1	expectant; sanguine, optimistic, confident

See synonyms for hopeful on Thesaurus.com

Other words from hopeful

hope·ful·ness, noun
un·hope·ful, adjective
un·hope·ful·ly, adverb

Words Nearby hopeful

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

How to use hopeful in a sentence

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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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

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