Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Hopeful Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

🌟
Add to dictionary

hopeful

[ˈhəʊpfʊl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

feeling or inspiring optimism

Feeling or inspiring optimism; full of hope; having a positive outlook on the future. People who are hopeful believe that things will get better and that good things are possible.

Synonyms

confident, optimistic, positive, upbeat.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
hopeful

Use when you are looking forward to a positive outcome or have a belief that something good will happen in the future.

  • She remained hopeful despite the challenging circumstances
  • He is hopeful that the weather will be nice for the picnic
optimistic

Use when you have a general positive attitude and expect good things to happen in the future.

  • He is optimistic about the company's growth this year
  • Even when times are tough, she always stays optimistic
positive

Use when focusing on the good aspects of a situation or keeping a cheerful perspective.

  • She tries to maintain a positive attitude, even in difficult times
  • His positive outlook on life is truly inspiring
confident

Use when expressing certainty or self-assurance about abilities, plans, or outcomes.

  • She was confident in her ability to solve the problem
  • He feels confident that their team will win the match
upbeat

Use when describing a cheerful, lively, and energetic attitude or mood.

  • Her upbeat personality makes her popular among her peers
  • The music had an upbeat tempo that made everyone want to dance

Examples of usage

  • She remained hopeful despite facing many challenges.
  • The hopeful students were excited about their future opportunities.
Context #2 | Noun

someone who has optimism

Someone who has optimism; a person who believes in the possibility of good outcomes. A hopeful is someone who looks forward to a positive future.

Synonyms

believer, dreamer, optimist.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
hopeful

Use this word when someone is feeling positive about a specific future event or outcome.

  • She was hopeful that the interview went well
  • The team is hopeful for a win this weekend
optimist

This is appropriate for someone who generally has a positive outlook on life and expects good things to happen.

  • Even in tough times, she remains an optimist
  • The optimist sees the glass as half full
dreamer

Use 'dreamer' to describe someone who is not always realistic and often thinks about or fantasizes about better things or situations. It can sometimes have a slightly negative connotation of being impractical.

  • He was always a dreamer, thinking of a better world
  • The company needs more doers, not dreamers
believer

This word fits when referring to someone who holds strong convictions, often in a religious or philosophical sense, or someone who trusts in something without necessarily seeing proof.

  • She is a strong believer in karma
  • He’s a believer in the power of positive thinking

Examples of usage

  • She is a hopeful who never gives up on her dreams.
  • The young hopefuls were eager to prove themselves in the competition.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'hopeful'

The word 'hopeful' originated from the Middle English word 'hopefulle', which is a combination of 'hope' and the suffix '-ful' meaning 'full of'. The concept of hope has been valued throughout history in various cultures and religions, symbolizing the belief in a positive future and better outcomes. The word 'hopeful' embodies this idea of optimism and belief in something good to come.

See also: hope, hopefully, hopefulness, hopefuls, hopeless, hopelessly, hopelessness, hoping.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,585 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.