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hopeful

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From hope +‎ -ful.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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hopeful (comparative more hopeful, superlative most hopeful)

  1. feeling hope
    I have been very hopeful.
    I am hopeful that I will recover from the disease.
    • 2024 February 26, Peter Baker and Michael D. Shear, “Biden Says He’s Hopeful for a Gaza Cease-Fire Within a Week”, in The New York Times[1]:
      Speaking with reporters during a stop in New York, Mr. Biden offered the most hopeful assessment of the hostage talks by any major figure in many days, suggesting that the war might be close to a major turning point.
  2. inspiring hope
    It looks hopeful that my father will be able to walk again.
    • 2024 September 11, Katie Rogers, Matt Stevens and Emily Cochrane, “How Taylor Swift Surprised Harris, and Entered a New Political Era”, in The New York Times[2]:
      The night was further proof that the Democratic Party’s cruel summer had given way to a more hopeful election season.

Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun

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hopeful (plural hopefuls)

  1. Someone who is hoping for success or victory, especially as a candidate in a political election.
    Several presidential hopefuls are campaigning in New Hampshire this week.
    • 2023 July 4, Jonathan Weisman and Jazmine Ulloa, “The Republican Who Didn’t Campaign on Independence Day? Trump.”, in The New York Times[3]:
      Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and several other Republican presidential hopefuls spent Tuesday in New Hampshire, while Mike Pence, the former vice president, was in Iowa.