hopeful

adjective

hope·ful | \ ˈhōp-fəl

Definition of hopeful

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : having qualities which inspire hope hopeful signs of economic recovery

2 : full of hope : inclined to hope

hopeful

noun

Definition of hopeful (Entry 2 of 2)

: aspirant Olympic hopefuls

Other Words from hopeful Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about hopeful

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Examples of hopeful in a Sentence

Adjective

The mood is sad rather than hopeful. He was hopeful that things would get better soon. I still feel hopeful about the future. She is hopeful of winning the race. a hopeful tone of voice There are hopeful signs that the crisis may end soon. The movie has a hopeful ending. Investigators report that there have been some hopeful developments in the case.

Noun

the three mayoral hopefuls are going to debate on local TV

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The worker added that colleagues feel hopeful the culture at NJ Transit is changing but that the process would take considerable time after years of discrimination. — Paul Berger, WSJ, "NJ Transit Gave $1.4 Million in Raises Following New Pay-Equity Law," 10 Feb. 2019 African-Americans, however, had reason to be hopeful amid electoral gains. — Russell Contreras, The Seattle Times, "Before multiculturalism, blackface rampant in US pop culture," 10 Feb. 2019 And giving out that first rose for hometowns made me feel so hopeful with what the next week meeting families would bring. — Becca Kufrin, PEOPLE.com, "Bachelorette Becca Kufrin Explains Her Reaction to Colton Being a Virgin: ' I Needed a Moment'," 11 July 2018 City officials are hopeful the success of that shelter will help convince council members and community leaders to accept new shelters in their areas. — Ryan Lillis And Cynthia Hubert, sacbee, "Sacramento wants to build large homeless shelters. But these key sites face opposition," 30 June 2018 Their memories accumulate to tell the remarkable story of one terrible day, its painful aftermath, and its hopeful legacy. — Margaret Lazarus Dean, Popular Mechanics, "The Oral History of the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster," 28 Jan. 2019 Franceschelli also has another board book in the series called Hello, Paris!. This community-minded book is a hopeful meditation on the amazing and challenging aspects of being human. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "The 17 best kids’ books about design and cities," 12 Dec. 2018 Young said staff is hopeful the damaged camellias will begin to recover by the time autumn rains begin to fall and that blooms will make their regular appearance this winter. — Sara Cardine, latimes.com, "Acres of historic camellias at Descanso Gardens scorched during weekend’s triple-digit heat," 12 July 2018 What's more, despite a current of anxiety that runs throughout the film, the ending is hopeful. — refinery29.com, "Eighth Grade Is So Real It Hurts In All The Right Places," 10 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Related Democratic presidential hopefuls are entering the arena in the dead of winter. — Ken Thomas, WSJ, "The Biggest 2020 Election Question: Whose Name Will Get Mangled Worst?," 14 Feb. 2019 Steve Bannon, who served as campaign manager to Trump during the 2016 general election, told NBC News to expect Trump to continue to make sharp contrasts between himself and possible Democratic hopefuls — including Sens. — Jonathan Allen /, NBC News, "Trump challenges 'Pocahontas' Warren to DNA test to prove she's Native American," 6 July 2018 But while Jealous and other Democratic hopefuls launched a full schedule of campaign events starting late last year, Baker spent much of his time governing. — Washington Post, "Baker’s campaign hurt by weak funding, enemies he made as county executive," 27 June 2018 Arizona’s Democratic hopefuls have also shifted left ideologically, which has only intensified the backlash against Ms. Valdez. — New York Times, "In Texas Governor’s Race, Lupe Valdez Faces Resistance From Fellow Democrats," 18 June 2018 But the resist-Trump movement -- combined with more Hispanics moving into the region and the retirement of Royce and fellow GOP Rep. Darrell Issa in the nearby 49th district -- resulted in Democratic hopefuls piling into races. — Joseph Weber, Fox News, "In wild California primary, Democratic candidate sues over rivals' ballot entries, candidates eased out," 28 Mar. 2018 Many leading rabbis have refrained from endorsing a final candidate and some Hassidic Jews, whose own hopeful failed to advance to the runoff, have vowed to vote for the secular Berkovitch — previously a seemingly improbable prospect. — Aron Heller, The Seattle Times, "Jerusalem picks new mayor in round 2 of municipal elections," 13 Nov. 2018 Of course, this endeared him to all of us watching: Those poor hopefuls could have been any of us! — Bette Midler, Vogue, "The Wind Beneath Her Wings: Bette Midler on the Rise and Reign of Michael Kors," 18 Oct. 2018 For these reasons, many nuclear hopefuls have looked to advanced nuclear technology. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "A good announcement and a bad announcement for two nuclear-energy startups," 26 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hopeful.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.