hope

1 of 2

verb

ˈhōp 

hoped; hoping

intransitive verb

1

: to cherish a desire with anticipation : to want something to happen or be true

hopes for a promotion

hoping for the best

I hope so.

2

archaic : trust

transitive verb

1

: to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment

I hope she remembers.

hopes to be invited

2

: to expect with confidence : trust

Your mother is doing well, I hope.

hoper noun

hope

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment

came in hopes of seeing you

also : expectation of fulfillment or success

no hope of a cure

when they were young and full of hope

b

: someone or something on which hopes are centered

our only hope for victory

c

: something desired or hoped for

great hopes for the coming year

2

archaic : trust, reliance

Phrases

hope against hope

: to hope without any basis for expecting fulfillment

Synonyms

Verb

• expect
• anticipate
• watch (for)
• await

Choose the Right Synonym for hope

expect, hope, look mean to await some occurrence or outcome.

expect implies a high degree of certainty and usually involves the idea of preparing or envisioning.

expects to be finished by Tuesday

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

look, with to, implies assurance that expectations will be fulfilled

looks to a tidy profit from the sale

; with for it implies less assurance and suggests an attitude of expectancy and watchfulness.

look for rain when the wind shifts to the northeast

Examples of hope in a Sentence

Verb

No one knows yet if anyone survived the crash. At this point, we can only hope.

I hope you're feeling better soon.

That's what she hoped would happen.

Let's hope that the strike ends soon.

I hope I haven't bored you.

Everyone in your family is well, I hope.

Noun

When they started their life together, they were young and full of hope.

Rescuers have not yet abandoned hope that more survivors will be found.

The drug has brought hope to thousands of sufferers.

We allowed ourselves to entertain hopes that the crisis would end soon.

The goal raised the hopes of the team.

The hope is that there will be a settlement soon.

The lawyers do not want to raise false hopes of an early settlement.

He told them the truth with the hope that they would understand.

He had little hope of attending college.

The latest reports hold out hope for a possible end to this crisis.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Beyond the shock factor, Crow hopes her video inspires others with old jetted tubs to check theirs, and encourages empathy for people maintaining older homes. —Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

Here’s hoping that this cast of outsiders has just as many adventures ahead of it. —Judy Berman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025

Noun

Expectations further rose over the course of the president’s trip to Asia, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, with the hopes that the deal would produce more than just a low-key touchpoint between the two world leaders. —Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025

Their faith paradoxically lessens in the face of evil, even for Father Karras, trembling in disbelief and dwindling hope the more the demon Pazuzu reveals itself. —Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English hopian; akin to Middle High German hoffen to hope

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing hope

• beacon of hope
• beyond hope
• cross my heart and hope to die
• forlorn hope
• glimmer/ray of hope
• great white hope
• hope chest
• hope for the best
• hope not
• hope so
• in (the) hope of/that
• live in hope
• only wish/want/hope
• pious hope/wish
• ray of hope
• white hope
• with the hope of

Rhymes for hope

• cope
• dope
• grope
• lope
• mope
• nope
• rope
• scope
• shope
• slope
• soap
• stope

Kids Definition

hope

1 of 2 verb

ˈhōp 

hoped; hoping

: to desire something and expect that it will happen or be obtained

hope to succeed

hope you'll accept the invitation

hope for a bicycle

hope

2 of 2 noun

1

archaic : trust entry 1 sense 1a, reliance

our hope is in the king

2

a

: desire accompanied by expectation of fulfillment

in hope of an early recovery

b

: someone or something on which hopes are centered

a home run was the only hope for victory

c

: something hoped for

Geographical Definition

Hope

geographical name

city in southwestern Arkansas that was the childhood home of President Bill Clinton population 10,095

Biographical Definition

Hope 1 of 3

biographical name (1)

ˈhōp 

Anthony see Sir Anthony Hope hawkins

Hope

2 of 3

biographical name (2)

Bob 1903–2003 originally Leslie Townes Hope American (British-born) comedian

Hope

3 of 3

biographical name (3)

Victor Alexander John 1887–1951 2nd Marquis of Linlithgow lin-ˈlith-(ˌ)gō  British soldier; viceroy of India (1936–43)