Synonyms of hope

hope 1 of 2

verb

as in to wish

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wish
• dream
• look
• mean
• purpose
• intend
• plan
• propose
• aim
• aspire
• try
• contemplate
• consider
• design
• purport
• attempt
• ponder
• calculate
• allow
• strive
• struggle
• debate
• endeavor
• meditate
• go
• achieve
• scheme
• accomplish
• mull (over)
• plot
• effect
• perform
• execute

hope

2 of 2

noun

1

as in hopefulness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hopefulness
• cheerfulness
• brightness
• idealism
• optimism
• rosiness
• sunniness
• perkiness
• meliorism
• sanguinity
• bullishness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• concern
• pessimism
• skepticism
• caution
• apprehension
• despair
• cynicism
• desperation
• hopelessness
• discouragement
• bearishness
• gloom
• realism
• pragmatism
• bleakness
• disheartenment
• gloominess
• dreariness
• cheerlessness

2

as in confidence

Synonyms & Similar Words

• confidence
• trust
• faith
• assurance
• certainty
• credence
• conviction
• acceptance
• stock
• surety
• positiveness
• assuredness
• certitude
• sureness
• reliance
• credit
• dependence
• dependance

3

as in plan

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plan
• idea
• wish
• purpose
• aim
• goal
• meaning
• dream
• intention
• objective
• desire
• intent
• object
• mind
• ambition
• aspiration
• design
• end
• thing
• target
• ideal
• point
• project
• mark
• bourn
• bourne
• pretension
• scheme
• plot
• destination
• holy grail
• grail
• destination
• terminus
• terminus

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb hope contrast with its synonyms?

The words expect and look are common synonyms of hope. While all three words mean "to await some occurrence or outcome," hope implies little certainty but suggests confidence or assurance in the possibility that what one desires or longs for will happen.

hopes to find a job soon

When is expect a more appropriate choice than hope?

In some situations, the words expect and hope are roughly equivalent. However, expect implies a high degree of certainty and usually involves the idea of preparing or envisioning.

expects to be finished by Tuesday

When would look be a good substitute for hope?

While the synonyms look and hope are close in meaning, look, with to, implies assurance that expectations will be fulfilled; with for it implies less assurance and suggests an attitude of expectancy and watchfulness.

looks to a tidy profit from the sale

look for rain when the wind shifts to the northeast

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hope

Verb

Chief Executive Elon Musk ‘s SpaceX hoped to release a series of mock satellites after liftoff, but that got nixed because the door failed to open all the way. —Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025

Steele, 29, hopes to be around the team as much as possible in the coming months, aiming to return to Wrigley Field every other homestand. —Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025

Noun

Many are still holding out hope that their home is the exception and will fetch top dollar. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025

The statement likely dashed the hopes of some traders and some in the administration that Powell would preemptively cut rates to ease any setback to economic growth from tariff policy. —Alex Harring,sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 29 May 2025