hopeful

play

adjective hope·ful \ ˈhōp-fəl \

Definition of hopeful

1 :having qualities which inspire hope

hopeful signs of economic recovery

2 :full of hope :inclined to hope

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hopefulness

noun

See hopeful defined for English-language learners

See hopeful defined for kids

Examples of hopeful in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of hopeful from the Web

Fitbit is hopeful this technology will be helpful for tracking sleep apnea in the future.

— rachel jacoby zoldan, SELF, "The New Fitbit Ionic Smart Watch Is Smart as Hell," 30 Aug. 2017
Coach Bill O’Brien said the Texans were hopeful of a return home before Monday.

— schuyler dixon, The Seattle Times, "Watt gets wish: Cowboys-Texans game funds going to recovery," 29 Aug. 2017
Aside from providing a fun day in the park, event organizers are hopeful of raising funds to maintain and make improvements.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Golden Snitches, Horcruxes and all things Potter come to Goshen park," 24 Aug. 2017
The tone was collegial, built on the hopeful assumption that Carson wanted to do right by the department.

— alec macgillis, Daily Intelligencer, "Is Anybody Home at HUD?," 22 Aug. 2017
Several teams are pursuing sites that may go back as far as 1.5 million years—but even that’s hopeful, says Goodge, a leader of a U.S. team planning to rapidly drill a deep ice site in the Antarctic interior.

— paul voosen, Science | AAAS, "Record-shattering 2.7-million-year-old ice core reveals start of the ice ages," 15 Aug. 2017
Not everyone is as happy with the measures or as hopeful about their potential, however.

— julia buckley, CNT, "Florence Launches Campaign Telling Tourists How to Behave," 10 Aug. 2017
Only this time, Honeycutt is hopeful the story will have a different ending.

— dylan hernandez, latimes.com, "Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt has lived what Yu Darvish is going through," 3 Aug. 2017
Courtney is hopeful about her recovery and wants to work to help others.

— jessica mattern, Country Living, "Mom Who Was Disfigured by Campfire Accident Then Abandoned By Husband Speaks Out," 14 July 2017

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.

First Known Use of hopeful

1568

hopeful Synonyms

hopeful

noun

Definition of hopeful

:aspirant

Olympic hopefuls

See hopeful defined for English-language learners

Examples of hopeful in a Sentence

the three mayoral hopefuls are going to debate on local TV

Recent Examples of hopeful from the Web

Eclipse hopefuls have been foiled by events as perilous as war and as pedestrian as cloudy weather.

— rebecca boyle, The Atlantic, "America in the Shadows," 21 Aug. 2017
Democratic hopefuls for governor sought again to link the governor, a wealthy businessman, to Trump.

— rick pearson, chicagotribune.com, "Democratic governor candidates say Rauner too late in criticizing Trump," 17 Aug. 2017
At least one Democratic Senate hopeful also is doubtful the issue will ever gain much traction, despite Republican support.

— john sharp, AL.com, "Most Republican Senate hopefuls in Alabama want term limits for Congress -but not everyone," 13 July 2017
Essentially medical travel agents, these providers help surgery hopefuls plan and facilitate every step of a trip, and seem to have no trouble convincing even the thriftiest patients that coordination services are indispensable.

— linni kral, Condé Nast Traveler, "The New Face of Medical Tourism," 19 June 2017
Plus, NBC crews will cover the competition as hopefuls are narrowed first to 100 athletes then, after additional training, to eight selectees, a man and a woman in each sport.

— diane bell, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Team USA's search for Olympic-caliber athletes comes to San Diego," 19 June 2017
But several top-tier hopeful are expected to follow, setting up what will likely be one of the nation's marquee Democratic primaries next year, helping to set the party's ideological course ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

— alex seitz-wald, NBC News, "Bernie Sanders-Inspired Candidates Look for Victory," 5 June 2017
For the sake of earnest job hopefuls like Breauna Roberson and Raihannah Shuaib, the Hire KC Youth program wants to make summer hiring as simple as possible for area employers.

— joe robertson, kansascity.com, "Hire KC Youth program steps into higher gear with grant help," 30 May 2017
NARROWING THE FIELD OF CANDIDATES An initial field of over 1,600 hopefuls registered to run in the election.

— Washington Post, "AP Explains: Voting, governance and clerical power in Iran," 19 May 2017

First Known Use of hopeful

1720

hopeful Synonyms

Synonyms

applicant, applier, aspirant, campaigner, contender, expectant, candidate, prospect, seeker

Antonyms

noncandidate

Related Words

competitor, contestant, entrant, entry, favorite, qualifier; dark horse, spoiler, stalking horse; crown prince, favorite son; claimant, pretender; nominee, running mate

Near Antonyms

incumbent, officeholder; awardee, honoree, inductee; dropout

HOPEFUL Defined for English Language Learners

hopeful

play

adjective

Definition of hopeful for English Language Learners

: full of hope : feeling or showing hope
: giving someone feelings of hope

hopeful

noun

Definition of hopeful for English Language Learners

: a person who hopes to do something

HOPEFUL Defined for Kids

hopeful

play

adjective hope·ful \ ˈhōp-fəl \

Definition of hopeful for Students

1 :full of hope

2 :giving hope :promising

a hopeful sign

—

hopefully

\-fə-lē\ adverb

Learn More about hopeful

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hopeful Spanish Central: Translation of hopeful Nglish: Translation of hopeful for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hopeful for Arabic speakers

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hopeful

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