hopeful
HOHPFL
Hopeful (adj) means feeling or expressing hope; expecting a good outcome. Example: “She stayed hopeful even after three rejections.”
adj
1
Feeling or expressing hope; expecting a good outcome.
"She stayed hopeful even after three rejections."
"Doctors are hopeful the treatment will work."
"I'm hopeful that the bus will still be waiting when we arrive."
noun
1
Someone tipped to succeed or win, especially a candidate in an election.
"The young hopeful hopes to win a seat in parliament."
"Olympic hopefuls trained for years for this one race."
"Several hopefuls waited nervously outside the room for their turn to audition."
How to use hopeful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFeeling optimistic, or (as a noun) a person expected to do well.
Common mistake
As an adverb, "hopefully" (meaning "I hope") is disputed by traditionalists — see the separate entry for "hopefully".
Common pairings
remain hopeful
cautiously hopeful
a young hopeful
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Word forms
- Plural
- hopefuls
- Comparative
- more hopeful
- Superlative
- most hopeful
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She stayed _____ even after three rejections.
Etymology
From hope + the suffix -ful ("full of").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for hopeful
See all rhymes for hopeful →Frequently asked questions
What does “hopeful” mean?
The word “hopeful” means feeling or expressing hope; expecting a good outcome. In plain terms, feeling optimistic, or (as a noun) a person expected to do well.
How do you pronounce “hopeful”?
“Hopeful” is pronounced HOHPFL (/ˈhoʊpfl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “hopeful” in a sentence?
Here is “hopeful” used in a sentence: “She stayed hopeful even after three rejections.”
What is the opposite of “hopeful”?
The opposite of “hopeful” — its antonyms — are hopeless, desperate and dejected.
What part of speech is “hopeful”?
Depending on how it is used, “hopeful” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “hopeful” a common word?
“Hopeful” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “hopeful” have?
“Hopeful” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling or expressing hope; expecting a good outcome.
What is the difference between hopeful and optimistic?
Hopeful means feeling or expressing hope that a good outcome will happen, often about a specific situation, while optimistic describes a more general tendency to expect good things in life overall.
What does hopeful mean as a noun, like 'a leadership hopeful'?
As a noun, a hopeful is someone who is tipped or expected to succeed at something, especially a candidate competing in an election, contest, or selection process.
Can hopeful describe both people and situations?
Yes. You can describe a person as hopeful about an outcome, and you can also describe a situation, sign, or piece of news as hopeful if it suggests things may turn out well.
