optimistic
adjective
op·ti·mis·tic
ˌäp-tə-ˈmi-stik 
: of, relating to, or characterized by optimism : feeling or showing hope for the future
an optimistic outlook
an optimistic economic forecast
a person with a hopeful, optimistic nature
I'm feeling optimistic about our chances.
The streets in question were magnificent commercial thoroughfares, … brimming with heavy streams of eager life—young, fresh, optimistic.—
Theodore Dreiser
Theodore Dreiser
optimistically
adverb
thinking optimistically about the future
an optimistically upbeat forecast
Optimistically, he anticipates that nuclear weapons … will never be used in war again …
—Russell F. Weigley
Russell F. Weigley
Examples of optimistic in a Sentence
the economic predictions for the coming year are actually quite optimistic
Recent Examples on the Web
Bosh wanted to resume playing at the start of the 2016–17 season, and the organization was cautiously optimistic he would be cleared for training camp.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Carradine plays Lewis as an outcast who’s completely aware of the way others perceive and reject him, yet chooses to be relentlessly, willfully, almost foolishly optimistic.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026
Poles, who emphasized the desire to keep Darnell Wright alongside Jonah Jackson on the right side, seemed cautiously optimistic that a strong left tackle option or two could be available at the end of the first round in April with the Bears slotted to pick 25th.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Einstein says there are reasons to be both pessimistic and optimistic about solving America's housing affordability crisis.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for optimistic
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Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Carradine plays Lewis as an outcast who’s completely aware of the way others perceive and reject him, yet chooses to be relentlessly, willfully, almost foolishly optimistic.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026
Poles, who emphasized the desire to keep Darnell Wright alongside Jonah Jackson on the right side, seemed cautiously optimistic that a strong left tackle option or two could be available at the end of the first round in April with the Bears slotted to pick 25th.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Einstein says there are reasons to be both pessimistic and optimistic about solving America's housing affordability crisis.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for optimistic
Cite this Entry
“Optimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optimistic. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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