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
Others are less optimistic still.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
The more optimistic study comes from a team of three tax attorneys and one economist from UC Berkeley, UC Davis and the University of Missouri who developed the structure of the tax proposal.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Standing on an elevated platform, my father held his pipe in one hand and raised his other arm to wave at the crowd, a determined and optimistic smile animating his face.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Yet there remains a stream of messages that are undeniably optimistic.
—Jason Rezaian, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for optimistic
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Alexander Smith, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
The more optimistic study comes from a team of three tax attorneys and one economist from UC Berkeley, UC Davis and the University of Missouri who developed the structure of the tax proposal.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Standing on an elevated platform, my father held his pipe in one hand and raised his other arm to wave at the crowd, a determined and optimistic smile animating his face.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Yet there remains a stream of messages that are undeniably optimistic.
—Jason Rezaian, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 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 Mar. 2026.
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