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
Investors remain optimistic, confident fiscal stimulus, easing monetary policy and strong earnings growth will carry the bull market to a fourth year.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
On the other hand, there's a 51% chance that HD 137010b is in the 'optimistic' habitable zone, a wider band where planetary rotation limits the greenhouse effect on the inner edge and geothermal activity can keep a planet warm on the outer edge.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The surprisingly optimistic ZiPS projections didn’t go away.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Questions mount over new US-India trade deal Indian analysts were cautiously optimistic over the country’s trade deal with the US, but warned that, because details of the agreement were scarce, much remained in doubt.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for optimistic
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Sarah Min, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
On the other hand, there's a 51% chance that HD 137010b is in the 'optimistic' habitable zone, a wider band where planetary rotation limits the greenhouse effect on the inner edge and geothermal activity can keep a planet warm on the outer edge.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The surprisingly optimistic ZiPS projections didn’t go away.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Questions mount over new US-India trade deal Indian analysts were cautiously optimistic over the country’s trade deal with the US, but warned that, because details of the agreement were scarce, much remained in doubt.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 4 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 6 Feb. 2026.
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