optimism noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of optimism noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

optimism

noun
 
 
/ˈɒptɪmɪzəm/
 
/ˈɑːptɪmɪzəm/
[uncountable]
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  1. a feeling that good things will happen and that something will be successful
    • a mood of cautious optimism
    • There are very real grounds for optimism.
    • with optimism We may now look forward with optimism.
    • optimism about/for something optimism about/for the future
    • Both sides have expressed optimism about the chances of an early agreement.
    opposite pessimism
    Extra Examples
    • Her optimism turned out to be misplaced.
    • I find it hard to share his optimism.
    • The news caused a wave of optimism.
    • There was a note of optimism in his voice.
    Topics Successc1, Personal qualitiesc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • considerable
    • great
    • tremendous
    • …
    … of optimism
    • wave
    • note
    verb + optimism
    • express
    • share
    optimism + verb
    • prevail
    • reign
    • evaporate
    • …
    preposition
    • with optimism
    • optimism  about
    • optimism  over
    • …
    phrases
    • cause for optimism
    • grounds for optimism
    • reason for optimism
    • …
    See full entry
    Word Originmid 18th cent.: from French optimisme, from Latin optimum ‘best thing’, neuter (used as a noun) of optimus ‘best’.
See optimism in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee optimism in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: optimism

Nearby words

genuinely
adverb
 
 
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