1
: having qualities which inspire hope
hopeful signs of economic recovery
2
: full of hope : inclined to hope
hopefulness
noun
Examples of hopeful in a Sentence
Adjective
The mood is sad rather than hopeful.
He was hopeful that things would get better soon.
I still feel hopeful about the future.
She is hopeful of winning the race.
a hopeful tone of voice
There are hopeful signs that the crisis may end soon.
The movie has a hopeful ending.
Investigators report that there have been some hopeful developments in the case.
Noun
the three mayoral hopefuls are going to debate on local TV
Recent Examples on the Web
Samantha Subin, CNBC, 30 May 2025
Wong, who knows something about the power of young musicians to change the world, is hopeful.
—Jim Ruland, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 16 May 2025
During last year’s elections, slain candidates included a mayoral aspirant stabbed to death in the gulf coast state of Tamaulipas after a breakfast event, and mayoral hopefuls shot dead during campaign stops in the states of Guerrero and Guanajuato.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hopeful
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Adjective
Zscaler’s earnings come as a hopeful sign for a cybersecurity industry that has shown some pockets of weakness in a volatile macroeconomic environment.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 30 May 2025
Wong, who knows something about the power of young musicians to change the world, is hopeful.
—Jim Ruland, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Noun
Van Der Beek has been slated for a recurring guest star role as Dean Wilson, the current school district superintendent and mayoral hopeful of the show's fictional town.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 16 May 2025
During last year’s elections, slain candidates included a mayoral aspirant stabbed to death in the gulf coast state of Tamaulipas after a breakfast event, and mayoral hopefuls shot dead during campaign stops in the states of Guerrero and Guanajuato.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hopeful
Cite this Entry
“Hopeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hopeful. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hopeful
1 of 2 adjective
hope·ful
ˈhōp-fəl 
1
: having qualities which inspire hope
2
: full of or inclined to hope
hopefulness
noun
hopeful
2 of 2 noun
: a person who has hopes or is considered promising
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