Synonyms of hope

hope 1 of 2

noun

1

as in hopefulness

Related Words

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

Dissimilar Words

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

2

as in confidence

Related Words

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

3

as in plan

Related 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

hope

2 of 2

verb

as in to wish

Related 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

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

Noun

Almost certainly out this week also is injured receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder), who provided most of the scant glimmers of hope in the Super Bowl with eight catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns. —Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025

The hope is the old one is doing so with a whimper rather than a bang. —John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025

Verb

Those treatments are no longer in short supply, and Wall Street and the health and medical community hope that pills won't encounter the same issue. —Annika Kim Constantino,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025

With the return, Lamar fills four spaces on the ranking at once, a showing that only the most successful in the style can hope to manage. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025