optimism

op·ti·mism | \ ˈäp-tə-ˌmi-zəm

Definition of optimism

1 : a doctrine that this world is the best possible world

2 : an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome expressed optimism about the future of the business the optimism of cheerleaders

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Examples of optimism in a Sentence

Both of them expressed optimism about the future of the town. The early sales reports are cause for optimism. There is growing optimism that the problem can be corrected. He maintains a sense of optimism, despite all that has happened.

Recent Examples on the Web But the size of Mr. Biden’s plans, laid out late Thursday, served to check some of that optimism. — Caitlin Ostroff, WSJ, "Stock Futures Slide on Tax Concerns," 15 Jan. 2021 But that optimism proved misplaced, with just 624 people signing up. — Robin Erb, Detroit Free Press, "Henry Ford study on hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 quietly shut down," 12 Jan. 2021 Despite that optimism, some oil executives worry that renewable diesel could hit a wall in the coming years. — New York Times, "Oil Refineries See Profit in Turning Kitchen Grease Into Diesel," 3 Dec. 2020 That optimism persisted this week even as one vaccine candidate suffered a setback and cases of coronavirus remain at elevated levels. — Arkansas Online, "Stocks rise on Wall Street as S&P 500 hits record high," 27 Nov. 2020 If that optimism is built on the assumption that COVID-19 will have run its course, that could change if the pandemic stretches out. — jsonline.com, "Are Milwaukee area household incomes improving? On the eve of the election, a new report says no, they've actually worsened," 30 Oct. 2020 That market optimism was driven by easy money from the Federal Reserve, hopes for federal relief from Congress and progress on a vaccine. — Matt Egan, CNN, "Wall Street is spooked, but it should have seen the fall coronavirus surge coming," 28 Oct. 2020 Taylor-Joy hopes viewers will take that optimism into their own lives. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "You’re Not Alone If The Queen’s Gambit Ending Made You Cry," 26 Oct. 2020 With Lysol remaining a hot commodity, Reckitt Benckiser shared that optimism. — Gerald Porter Jr., Bloomberg.com, "P&G, Albertsons Say Covid-19 Shopping Patterns Here to Stay," 20 Oct. 2020

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