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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
nounDefinition of hopeful (Entry 2 of 2)
: aspirant Olympic hopefuls
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Synonyms & Antonyms for hopeful
Synonyms: Adjective
- auspicious,
- bright,
- encouraging,
- fair,
- golden,
- heartening,
- likely,
- optimistic,
- promising,
- propitious,
- roseate,
- rose-colored,
- rosy,
- upbeat
Synonyms: Noun
Antonyms: Adjective
- bleak,
- dark,
- depressing,
- desperate,
- discouraging,
- disheartening,
- dismal,
- downbeat,
- dreary,
- gloomy,
- hopeless,
- inauspicious,
- pessimistic,
- unencouraging,
- unlikely,
- unpromising,
- unpropitious
Antonyms: Noun
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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
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Both coaches are hopeful the 2020 football season will take place as scheduled, making any necessary adjustments to summer camps and August preseason practice.
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Jack Marrion, Houston Chronicle, "Alief ISD coaches welcome players’ return, adjust to guidelines," 23 June 2020 Markus Braun, until last week the CEO of German payments hopeful Wirecard, has been arrested on suspicion of false accounting and market manipulation.
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David Meyer, Fortune, "Bending the curve of capitalism," 23 June 2020 The judge appeared sympathetic, and Green and Joern left feeling hopeful.
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Kathryn Joyce, The New Republic, "No Money, No Lawyer, No Justice," 22 June 2020 In the meantime, the team was still hopeful a naming rights sponsor for the stadium could be secured.
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Sharon Coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "Lawsuit: FC Cincinnati stadium should have naming rights sponsor by now," 22 June 2020 As Tulsa braces for Trump's visit, civic leaders and others here are mindful of the city's troubled history with racial violence while also cautiously hopeful for the potential of the Black Lives Matter movement.
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Chris James, CNN, "For Black Tulsa residents, the city's racial past and present hover over Trump rally," 20 June 2020 Dotson and Johnson are hopeful that this movement will mark a moment of change for the country.
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Danielle Echeverria, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Area organizers spur Big Tech to recognize Juneteenth," 19 June 2020 Oil prices climbed Friday, sending U.S. crude back near $40 a barrel with traders hopeful that global fuel demand will rebound more quickly than anticipated.
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Amrith Ramkumar, WSJ, "Oil Prices Rise Above $40 on Demand Hopes," 19 June 2020 Esder Chong, a 22-year-old DACA recipient in Middlesex County, N.J., says she’s now hopeful the DACA ruling will enable her to complete her upcoming graduate studies as a Schwarzman Scholar, which might require her to move to China.
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Jasmine Aguilera, Time, "'There's Hope for Us.' DACA Recipients Celebrate Supreme Court Ruling," 19 June 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Fallon had a heavier conversation with Don Cheadle, who recently moderated a town hall conversation with presidential hopeful, Joe Biden.
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Heather Gardner, EW.com, "This week's best of late-night: Alicia Keys shares significance of Juneteeth, Gwyneth Paltrow debuts shocking new candle," 19 June 2020 And last month, Jubilee entered into a coalition with a party led by Gideon Moi, another presidential hopeful and the son of ex-leader Daniel Arap Moi -- a political realignment that also sidelines Ruto.
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David Malingha, Bloomberg.com, "Kenyan President Consolidates Power as Deputy’s Base Ebbs," 5 June 2020 Last year, a pair of Olympic hopefuls stole the show at state.
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Greg Riddle, Dallas News, "The 2020 UIL track and field state meet had the potential to be historically spectacular," 8 May 2020 Olympians and Olympic hopefuls are really struggling with what to do next.
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Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, "With Tokyo Games postponed, here's how U.S. Olympians can get mental health help," 3 Apr. 2020 Skinner is just one of thousands of other Olympic hopefuls and Olympians — including Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history — who are anxious about the schedule change that has upended their regimented lives.
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Juliet Macur, New York Times, "‘It’s Just So Devastating’: Olympic Delay Is Especially Hard for Gymnasts," 1 Apr. 2020 MacNeil is in a different position from many Olympic hopefuls.
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Orion Sang, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan swimmer Maggie MacNeil is a world champ, but Olympic-size pool and dreams have to wait," 30 Mar. 2020 The senior senator from Massachusetts is hosting a town hall with Castro, himself a former presidential hopeful who endorsed Warren shortly after dropping out of the race in January.
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ExpressNews.com, "Elizabeth Warren to be in San Antonio Thursday for town hall event with Julián Castro," 22 Feb. 2020 As presidential hopefuls have canvassed Iowa and New Hampshire, Reed has looked for a candidate to join forces with in Alabama.
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Kyle Whitmire, al, "Whitmire: Bloomberg’s Alabama bet is Joe Reed’s gamble," 12 Feb. 2020
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for hopeful
hopeful
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of hopeful
(Entry 1 of 2)
: full of hope : feeling or showing hope
: giving someone feelings of hope
hopeful
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of hopeful (Entry 2 of 2)
: a person who hopes to do something
See the full definition for hopeful in the English Language Learners Dictionary
hopeful
adjectivehope·ful | \ ˈhōp-fəl \
\Kids Definition of hopeful
1 : full of hope
2 : giving hope : promising a hopeful sign
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Time Traveler for hopeful
The first known use of hopeful was in 1568
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