1
: having qualities which inspire hope
hopeful signs of economic recovery
2
: full of hope : inclined to hope
hopefulness
noun
Synonyms
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
Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2024
In the years since that hopeful summit, bilateral trade has continued to increase, but it has been overshadowed by escalating tensions.
—Tomohiko Taniguchi, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2024
Josh Lowenthal, the state Assembly member who represents Catalina Island, is hopeful that local collaboration between healthcare providers and lawmakers will offer a solution.
—Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Helping to bolster the evening’s hopeful tone—about the future of mental health treatment; about its wide (and ever-expanding) accessibility—was a spirited concert from Sing Harlem (of America's Got Talent fame).
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
Columns Michael Smolens: Another hopeful zig-zag on homelessness in San Diego
April 5, 2024
The audit examining homelessness spending in San Diego and San Jose was released in conjunction with another report evaluating efforts to fight homelessness across the state.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
The building’s developers are reportedly hopeful these new arrivals could help populate the mostly residential building.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 18 Apr. 2024
In a new dating show – with a survival-style twist – hopeful singles need to go through a few hurdles first.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Host Ari Wallach travels around the world to meet the people shaping a hopeful future.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024
With Stroud coming off a stellar debut season in the NFL, having a cast of dynamic options should make his life easier as the Texans look to transition from upstarts to Super Bowl hopefuls.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Skiers, snowboarders and even Olympic hopefuls often train in the area during the wintertime.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately for the other hopefuls those sums will likely never be on the cards.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024
Yee joins a crowded field of Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls in 2026, including former Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 28 Mar. 2024
State won a stunning five games in five days, capturing the ACC Tournament title and possibly denying an at-large bid to hopefuls like St. John's, Virginia or Seton Hall.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2024
Earnest TikTokers perhaps do not know that the most prominent wearer of the Polo Ralph Lauren sweater in recent months is, in fact, former GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, who has sported two versions.
—Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024
In Arizona, gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake and other Republicans pulled the same stunt after losing their statewide races, refusing to recognize the results.
—Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2024
In the years since that hopeful summit, bilateral trade has continued to increase, but it has been overshadowed by escalating tensions.
—Tomohiko Taniguchi, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2024
Josh Lowenthal, the state Assembly member who represents Catalina Island, is hopeful that local collaboration between healthcare providers and lawmakers will offer a solution.
—Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Helping to bolster the evening’s hopeful tone—about the future of mental health treatment; about its wide (and ever-expanding) accessibility—was a spirited concert from Sing Harlem (of America's Got Talent fame).
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
Columns Michael Smolens: Another hopeful zig-zag on homelessness in San Diego
April 5, 2024
The audit examining homelessness spending in San Diego and San Jose was released in conjunction with another report evaluating efforts to fight homelessness across the state.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
The building’s developers are reportedly hopeful these new arrivals could help populate the mostly residential building.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 18 Apr. 2024
In a new dating show – with a survival-style twist – hopeful singles need to go through a few hurdles first.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Host Ari Wallach travels around the world to meet the people shaping a hopeful future.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
So did Republicans Debbie Lesko and Bob Branch, the other supervisor hopefuls in District 4, and the rest of the supervisor candidates across the county.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024
With Stroud coming off a stellar debut season in the NFL, having a cast of dynamic options should make his life easier as the Texans look to transition from upstarts to Super Bowl hopefuls.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Skiers, snowboarders and even Olympic hopefuls often train in the area during the wintertime.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately for the other hopefuls those sums will likely never be on the cards.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024
Yee joins a crowded field of Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls in 2026, including former Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 28 Mar. 2024
State won a stunning five games in five days, capturing the ACC Tournament title and possibly denying an at-large bid to hopefuls like St. John's, Virginia or Seton Hall.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2024
Earnest TikTokers perhaps do not know that the most prominent wearer of the Polo Ralph Lauren sweater in recent months is, in fact, former GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, who has sported two versions.
—Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024
In Arizona, gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake and other Republicans pulled the same stunt after losing their statewide races, refusing to recognize the results.
—Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hopeful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hopeful
Cite this Entry
“Hopeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hopeful. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hopeful
1 of 2 adjective
hope·ful
ˈhōp-fəl 
1
: having qualities which inspire hope
2
: full of or inclined to hope
hopefulness
noun
hopeful
2 of 2 noun
: a person who has hopes or is considered promising
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