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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

hopeful en · ADJ

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈhəʊpfl̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈhoʊpfl̩/ (General-American)
  • (General-American) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *tōhopōnder. Old English tōhopa Old English hopa Middle English hope English hope Proto-Indo-European *pleh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁nós Proto-Germanic *fullaz Proto-Germanic *-fullaz Old English -ful Middle English -ful English -ful English hopeful From hope + -ful.

Meanings

  1. feeling hope
    • I am hopeful that I will recover from the disease.
    • I have been very hopeful.
    • 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. 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:
  2. inspiring hope
    • It looks hopeful that my father will be able to walk again.
    • The night was further proof that the Democratic Party’s cruel summer had given way to a more hopeful election season. 2024 November 9, Katie Rogers, Matt Stevens and Emily Cochrane, “How Taylor Swift Surprised Harris, and Entered a New Political Era”, in The New York Times:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
hopefull alternative, archaic lexicographic
more hopeful Degree=Cmp lexicographic
most hopeful Degree=Sup lexicographic

Antonyms

dejected · desperate · hopeless

Deriveds

unhopeful · nonhopeful · hopeful monster · hopefulness · hopefully

Translations (36)

kk дәмелі (feeling hope) · tly اومیدوار (feeling hope) · fi toivoa herättävä (inspiring hope) · es esperanzador (inspiring hope) · sv hoppingivande (inspiring hope) · ca esperançat (feeling hope) · fr plein d'espoir (feeling hope) · so rajo (inspiring hope) · mk охрабру́вачки (inspiring hope) · da håbefuld (feeling hope) · ga misniúil (feeling hope) · ug ئۈمىدۋار (feeling hope) · bg многообещаващ (inspiring hope) · pdt hopnungsvoll (feeling hope) · kk үмітті (feeling hope) · cs nadějný (inspiring hope) · fi toiveikas (feeling hope) · hi आशावादी (feeling hope) · sh koji ulijeva nadu (inspiring hope) · fr encourageant (inspiring hope) · it speranzoso (feeling hope) · grc εὔελπις (feeling hope) · bg надяващ се (feeling hope) · eo esperplena (feeling hope) · sh pun nade (feeling hope) · fr prometteur (inspiring hope) · sv hoppfull (feeling hope) · ru обнадёживающий (inspiring hope) · mk на́дежен (feeling hope) · es esperanzado (feeling hope) · eo esperebla (feeling hope) · bg обнадеждаващ (inspiring hope) · hi सकारात्मक (feeling hope) · tr umutlu (feeling hope) · ca esperançador (inspiring hope) · grc εὔελπις (inspiring hope)

hopeful en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈhəʊpfl̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈhoʊpfl̩/ (General-American)
  • (General-American) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *tōhopōnder. Old English tōhopa Old English hopa Middle English hope English hope Proto-Indo-European *pleh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁nós Proto-Germanic *fullaz Proto-Germanic *-fullaz Old English -ful Middle English -ful English -ful English hopeful From hope + -ful.

Meanings

  1. Someone who is hoping for success or victory, especially as a candidate in a political election.
    • 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. 2023 April 7, Jonathan Weisman and Jazmine Ulloa, “The Republican Who Didn’t Campaign on Independence Day? Trump.”, in The New York Times:
    • Several presidential hopefuls are campaigning in New Hampshire this week.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
hopefuls Number=Plur lexicographic
hopefull alternative, archaic lexicographic