What does hopeful mean?
Hopeful means having or showing optimism about what may happen. A person who is hopeful expects that a difficult situation will improve, that a plan will succeed, or that some desirable result is still possible. The adjective can also describe signs, prospects, or candidates that give reason for confidence. It is generally positive, but it is distinct from certainty: being hopeful does not mean that success is guaranteed, only that the possibility of success is believed to be worth supporting. The word is useful in public, professional, and personal contexts because it conveys encouragement without dismissing real difficulties. It is also more specific than simply saying that something is “good,” since it focuses on future possibility, favorable prospects, or an attitude of confidence.
adjectiveFeeling or expressing optimism and confidence that a desirable outcome will occur. In a broader sense, it describes something that gives cause for hope.
- Feeling optimistic and confident that something will succeed or that a good outcome is possible.
- Suggesting or providing reason for optimism, as in a hopeful sign or a hopeful prospect.
- Describing a person who is regarded as a likely candidate for a position, election, or other role.
"Despite the difficult journey, the team remained hopeful about reaching the summit before nightfall."
"The doctor is hopeful that the new treatment will reduce the patient's symptoms."
"The survey showed a hopeful trend in applications from younger workers."
"She was selected as the hopeful candidate to replace the retiring director."
Hopefulness can be a quiet kind of courage: it keeps a possibility alive before the evidence has caught up with it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hopeful come from?
Hopeful derives from the English word hope, which comes from Old English hop, meaning a belief or expectation of a favorable outcome. The adjective hopeful developed from that base and is attested in English during the medieval period. The related words hopeless, optimism, and optimistic belong to the same broad semantic family, although they were formed through different English and Latin developments.
Related word forms
How hopeful is actually used
Hopeful is common in both formal and informal English. It usually indicates expectation or confidence in a positive outcome, but it can also be used more mildly to suggest that a situation is promising rather than certain.
Easily confused with hopeful
A hopeful person expects a positive outcome, whereas a hopeless person sees no possibility of improvement or success.