optimistic
adjective
op·ti·mis·tic
ˌäp-tə-ˈmi-stik 
: of, relating to, or characterized by optimism : feeling or showing hope for the future
an optimistic outlook
an optimistic economic forecast
a person with a hopeful, optimistic nature
I'm feeling optimistic about our chances.
The streets in question were magnificent commercial thoroughfares, … brimming with heavy streams of eager life—young, fresh, optimistic.—
Theodore Dreiser
Theodore Dreiser
optimistically
adverb
thinking optimistically about the future
an optimistically upbeat forecast
Optimistically, he anticipates that nuclear weapons … will never be used in war again …
—Russell F. Weigley
Russell F. Weigley
Examples of optimistic in a Sentence
the economic predictions for the coming year are actually quite optimistic
Recent Examples on the Web
Going into the evening, Jeffries was cautiously optimistic, based on reams of internal polling, that House Democrats were going to win enough competitive races to reclaim the majority—which is why Cornelius was there.
—Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
These platforms rest on an assumption that proactive state policy can significantly improve living standards, not merely soften an inevitable downturn, and offer voters more optimistic — if sharply divergent — diagnoses and cures than the pervasive resignation captured in the article.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Ambassador Alexander Yui, the Taiwanese Representative to the United States, remained optimistic on Sunday about the American arms sale to Taiwan in the face of its delay.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 17 May 2026
Johnson’s Anaia is much sweeter, and though there’s some ferocity inside her too, the movie leaves her in a compassionate, optimistic place.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for optimistic
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Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
These platforms rest on an assumption that proactive state policy can significantly improve living standards, not merely soften an inevitable downturn, and offer voters more optimistic — if sharply divergent — diagnoses and cures than the pervasive resignation captured in the article.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Ambassador Alexander Yui, the Taiwanese Representative to the United States, remained optimistic on Sunday about the American arms sale to Taiwan in the face of its delay.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 17 May 2026
Johnson’s Anaia is much sweeter, and though there’s some ferocity inside her too, the movie leaves her in a compassionate, optimistic place.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for optimistic
Cite this Entry
“Optimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optimistic. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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