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

optimistically

ˌäp-tə-ˈmi-sti-k(ə-)lē 

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

Synonyms of optimistic

• promising
• bright
• hopeful

Examples of optimistic in a Sentence

the economic predictions for the coming year are actually quite optimistic

Recent Examples on the Web

Democrats felt optimistic about taking the majority earlier in the night than some had expected after the shocking win in South Carolina. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026

The 49ers’ bye week also came at a good time, with Mike Evans and Nick Bosa optimistic about returning and the addition of Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner providing another boost. — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2026

Democrats had been cautiously optimistic heading into the evening, with good polling and the American tradition of midterm backlash against a sitting president behind them. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Concerns about cognitive aging are real, and Treves remains optimistic about the potential of technologies that measure and influence brain activity. — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

optimist + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for optimistic

• agonistic
• altruistic
• animistic
• aphoristic
• atheistic
• atomistic
• cabalistic
• calvinistic
• chauvinistic
• dualistic
• egoistic
• egotistic

Kids Definition

optimistic

adjective

op·​ti·​mis·​tic

ˌäp-tə-ˈmis-tik

: showing optimism : expecting everything to come out all right : hopeful

optimistically

-ti-k(ə-)lē

adverb