hope
HOHP
Hope (verb) means to want something to happen and believe it might. Example: “I hope you feel better soon.”
verb
1
To want something to happen and believe it might.
"I hope you feel better soon."
"We hope to visit Japan next spring."
"I'm hoping the rain stops before we start the picnic."
noun
1
A feeling of trust or expectation that something good will happen.
"She never lost hope that things would improve."
"There's still hope for a peaceful resolution."
"The farmers watched the clouds with hope that the rain would finally come."
How to use hope
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWanting and expecting something good to happen.
Common mistake
"Hope" implies a real chance of happening; "wish" is often used for things that are unlikely or impossible ("I wish I could fly").
Easily confused with
Common pairings
hope for the best
lose hope
give up hope
hope so
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Word forms
- Plural
- hopes
- Third person singular
- hopes
- Past tense
- hoped
- Archaic forms
- hopest, hopedst, hopeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I _____ you feel better soon.
Etymology
From Old English hopian, "to hope," of uncertain deeper origin but shared with several other Germanic languages.
Related words
Rhymes for hope
See all rhymes for hope →Frequently asked questions
What does “hope” mean?
The word “hope” means to want something to happen and believe it might. In plain terms, wanting and expecting something good to happen.
How do you pronounce “hope”?
“Hope” is pronounced HOHP (/ˈhoʊ̯p/ in IPA).
How do you use “hope” in a sentence?
Here is “hope” used in a sentence: “I hope you feel better soon.”
What part of speech is “hope”?
Depending on how it is used, “hope” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “hope” come from?
The word “hope” comes from Old English. From Old English hopian, "to hope," of uncertain deeper origin but shared with several other Germanic languages.
Is “hope” a common word?
“Hope” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “hope” have?
“Hope” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to want something to happen and believe it might.
What is the difference between 'hope' and 'wish'?
'Hope' means to want something you believe could really happen, as in 'I hope it stops raining.' 'Wish' often means wanting something unlikely or impossible, as in 'I wish I could fly.' Grammar differs too: 'wish' takes a past-tense verb for unreal situations ('I wish I were taller'), while 'hope' does not.
What is the difference between 'hope' and 'expect'?
To hope is to want something and believe it might happen; to expect is to think something is likely, whether or not you want it. You can hope for good news but expect bad. Hope carries desire and optimism, while expectation is more of a prediction about what will probably occur.
Can you hope for something impossible?
Usually not, in the strict sense. Hope carries a belief that the outcome is at least possible, however slim the chance. When something is truly impossible, people tend to say they 'wish' for it instead. That belief in possibility is exactly what separates hope from an idle wish.
Is 'hope' a verb or a noun?
Both. As a verb, 'hope' means to want and expect something, as in 'I hope you're well.' As a noun, it names the feeling itself, as in 'a sense of hope.' The two forms share the same core idea: wanting a good outcome and believing it may come.
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