1
: having qualities which inspire hope
hopeful signs of economic recovery
2
: full of hope : inclined to hope
hopefulness noun

hopeful

2 of 2

noun

: aspirant
Olympic hopefuls

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
With more than a touch of the ever-popular Scandi Noir genre, the team are now hopeful about the potential for international sales as All3Media International gets ready to shop the four-parter at the London TV Screenings. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2025 Messing ended her nearly hour-long conversation with CNN on a hopeful note. Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
Noun
According to Shuster, the idea for the show came from her personal experience, not only as a sports journalist, but as a mother of an athletic hopeful. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Feb. 2025 She was eliminated first among the cast of model hopefuls, following a photo challenge inspired by voting and political issues. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for hopeful 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1720, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hopeful was in 1568

Dictionary Entries Near hopeful

Cite this Entry

“Hopeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hopeful. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

hopeful

1 of 2 adjective
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

More from Merriam-Webster on hopeful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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