hopefulhope‧ful1 /ˈhəʊpfəl $ ˈhoʊp-/ ●●○ adjective 
Everyone’s feeling pretty hopeful about the future.hopeful (that) I’m hopeful that we can find a solution.be hopeful of (doing) something British English He is still hopeful of playing in Saturday’s game.2making you feel that what you hope for is likely to happen SYN promising: The vote is a hopeful sign that attitudes in the church are changing. Things might get better, but it doesn’t look very hopeful right now.—hopefulness noun [uncountable]
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- At the interview they told me I was "the right sort of person'. I thought that sounded kind of hopeful.
- I'm quite hopeful that I'll get the job.
- James felt more hopeful about his future after his chat with his professor.
- The fact that the two sides have agreed to hold negotiations is an extremely hopeful sign.
- The local police are hopeful of catching those responsible for the graffiti.
- The peace talks concluded on a hopeful note.
- Todd broke into a hopeful smile every time the phone rang.
- We don't know if Gascoigne will be fit to play in Saturday's game, but we're all hopeful.
- A faint but more hopeful splutter, this time.
- At best it might produce recommendations for new and hopeful initiatives.
- At other times, his statements undermined such hopeful words.
- At present it seems likely that the most hopeful approaches rest in three areas.
- Despite such findings, research still largely bears out the hopeful assumptions that have guided practitioners like Abed and Yunus.
THESAURUS
believing that good things will happen: · I’m optimistic about our chances of winning.· an optimistic view of the future
believing that what you hope for will happen: · The test results made him feel more hopeful about his chances of recovery.
thinking about what is good in a situation, rather than what is bad: · Try to be more positive about your work.· She has a very positive attitude to life.
having a cheerful attitude and showing that you expect to succeed, or that a situation will get better, especially the economic or political situation: · The prime minister was upbeat, predicting that the economy would soon come out of recession.· an upbeat message about the party’s chances of winning the election
feeling confident about the future – used especially when talking the economic situation, or a company’s chances of success: · He’s very bullish about the company’s prospects.· Stockmarket analysts expect the bullish trend to continue.
formal hopeful and not worried about what will happen in the future, especially when the situation seems difficult – a very formal use: · Koons himself somehow remains sanguine in the face of all the criticism.· Other commentators are less sanguine, and fear that the world economy is on the verge of recession.
if the future or your life seems rosy, it seems good and you expect good things to happen: · The future looks rosy for the team.· Returning soldiers found life less rosy than they had hoped.· The price of oil keeps going up, and things look pretty rosy for the big oil companies.
to consider the good parts of a situation, which seems bad in many other ways – used especially when telling someone that they should do this: · Look on the bright side – it could have been a lot worse.
Longman Language Activatorto hope that something will happen or that something is true · See you soon, I hope!· Even when everyone else thought he was dead, Julie never stopped hoping.hope (that) · We hurried out of the building, hoping that no one would see us leave.hope to do something · Bob's hoping to travel to Africa next year.hope for · I'm hoping for a better salary in my next job.I hope so spoken · "Have we got enough money for the rent?'' "I don't know. I hope so.''hope and pray · She could only hope and pray that Liza would be back to her normal self the next time she saw her.
hoping that something good is likely to happen: · We don't know if Gascoigne will be fit to play in Saturday's game, but we're all hopeful.hopeful (that): · I'm quite hopeful that I'll get the job.hopeful about: · James felt more hopeful about his future after his chat with his professor.be hopeful of (doing) something British: · The local police are hopeful of catching those responsible for the graffiti.
use this to say that you hope that something will happen the way you want, when you cannot do anything to affect what happens: · "Have you had your test results yet?'' "No. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed.''· Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that this idea of yours works.
to hope that a situation will end well, when it is possible that something might go wrong: · He never uses a recipe. He just throws all kinds of food into a pan and hopes for the best.· Every expectant mother goes into labour hoping for the best
British /in hopes that American if you do something in the hope that it will have a good result, you do it because you hope it will make something good happen: · He showed me a photo of his wife, in the hope that I might have seen her.· He was rejecting Nancy in hopes that something better might develop with Lydia.
hoping and expecting that everything will happen in the best way possible: · Although his lawyers were optimistic, they couldn't be sure about the final outcome of the trial.· The Democrats went into this election in an optimistic mood.optimistic about: · I am very optimistic about the future of our company.cautiously optimistic (=optimistic, but realizing that a good result is not definite): · The patient is still in a critical condition but doctors say they are cautiously optimistic that he will make a full recovery.
to hope that one particular thing will happen, because your happiness or all your other plans depend on this: · Sue is pinning all her hopes on getting this job.· ''I do hope she remembers.'' ''Don't pin your hopes on it'', warned David.
to be very hopeful and excited about something, so that you would be very disappointed if it did not happen: have high hopes of doing something: · Sam has high hopes of going to university next year.· Despite our differences, we came here with high hopes of signing a new treaty.have high hopes for: · Japanese car manufacturers have high hopes for increased profits in Europe.
making you feel more hope · The fact that the two sides have agreed to hold negotiations is an extremely hopeful sign.look hopeful · Things might get better, but it isn't looking very hopeful right now.sound hopeful · At the interview they told me I was "the right sort of person'. I thought that sounded kind of hopeful.
making you feel more confident and hopeful: · The doctor had some encouraging news -- I would soon be able to walk again.· There are one or two more encouraging signs in the economy now.· So far the results of our tests have been very encouraging.
seeming likely to be good or successful: · The future looks promising for British companies abroad.· The weather outlook for the weekend isn't very promising.· My grandfather gave up a promising career in law to fight for his country.
if something such as a new situation or discovery offers hope , it makes it possible for people to feel more hopeful that a bad situation will improve: offer hope to: · The new treatment may offer hope to thousands of cancer patients.offer hope of: · A recent UN initiative seems to offer some hope of a lasting peace settlement in the region.
to make people more confident than before that what they are hoping for will happen: raise hopes that: · The latest news has raised hopes that another Western hostage might soon be released.raise somebody's hopes: · Speculation in the press about tax cuts has raised everyone's hopes.
formal making people hopeful that good things will happen: · The baseball season got off to an auspicious start with two good wins for the Tokyo Giants.· It is my honour to toast the bride and groom on this auspicious occasion.
something good that gives you hope that a long and difficult period is going to end soon: · For Jane there is some light at the end of the tunnel, but many anorexia sufferers continue to suffer in silence.see the light at the end of the tunnel (=realize that there is hope): · After all the problems we've had we're finally beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
something that gives you a small reason to hope that a bad situation will improve: · The news gave a glimmer of hope that Michael might be released from prison early.· The one ray of hope seemed to be the possibility that the enemy would call off their attack because of the weather.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The vote is a hopeful sign that attitudes in the church are changing.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
The vote is a hopeful sign that attitudes in the church are changing.· If she can move her legs, that’s a good sign.
WORD FAMILYnounhopehopefulness ≠ hopelessnesshopefuladjectivehopeful ≠ hopelessverbhopeadverbhopefully ≠ hopelessly
1believing that what you hope for is likely to happen SYN optimistichopeful about Everyone’s feeling pretty hopeful about the future.hopeful (that) I’m hopeful that we can find a solution.be hopeful of (doing) something British English He is still hopeful of playing in Saturday’s game.2making you feel that what you hope for is likely to happen SYN promising: The vote is a hopeful sign that attitudes in the church are changing. Things might get better, but it doesn’t look very hopeful right now.—hopefulness noun [uncountable]- engagement
- engaging
- engagingly
- Engels, Friedrich
- engender
- engine
- engineer
- engineering
- England
- England and Wales Cricket Board
- English
- English breakfast
- English Channel
- English Heritage
- English horn
- Englishman
- English muffin
- English Tourist Board
- Englishwoman
- engorged
- engrave
- engraver
- engraving
- engross
- engrossed