optimistic

adjective

op·​ti·​mis·​tic ˌäp-tə-ˈmi-stik How to pronounce optimistic (audio)
: 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
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

Examples of optimistic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Advertisement At the pile burn last week, crews were optimistic about such efforts. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2023 That’s where the news of a HER2-positive diagnosis takes an unexpectedly optimistic turn: Treatment options are more plentiful for breast cancer patients designated as HER2-positive. Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 4 Dec. 2023 When employees are pessimistic, the CEO must be optimistic. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2023 The forecasts on the impact of generative AI ranged from a world of abundance in the near future to cautiously optimistic. Alex Zhavoronkov, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 After Biden selected Tom Vilsack, the secretary of agriculture for both of Obama’s terms, to return to the role, Joe Maxwell, co-founder of the advocacy group Farm Action, was not optimistic that the Department of Agriculture would address chicken growers’ concerns. H. Claire Brown, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023 Kip’s crimes had shaken the entire county—everyone seemed to know someone connected to the case—and the lawyers were not optimistic about winning over a local jury. Jennifer Gonnerman, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2023 Not so fast, says JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive Jamie Dimon. Dimon, speaking Monday at an investment conference in London, warned not to get too optimistic about the economy's latest performance. Josh Mitchell, WSJ, 27 Nov. 2023 But at least one critic of the ruling is optimistic that the decision is only a temporary setback for gun control advocates. Brianna Herlihy, Fox News, 23 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'optimistic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

optimist + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of optimistic was in 1834

Dictionary Entries Near optimistic

Cite this Entry

“Optimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optimistic. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

optimistic

adjective
op·​ti·​mis·​tic
ˌäp-tə-ˈmis-tik
: showing optimism : expecting everything to come out all right : hopeful
optimistically
-ti-k(ə-)lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on optimistic

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