1
: having qualities which inspire hope
hopeful signs of economic recovery
2
: full of hope : inclined to hope
hopefulness
noun
Synonyms
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
John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Host Ari Wallach travels around the world to meet the people shaping a hopeful future.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Beyond capturing the hopeful joy that the new season brings, the poem also encapsulates my eagerness for the arrival of all things green: the trees, the flowers and, most importantly, the produce.
—Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
The Kirk Kristiansen family will be hopeful that new growth strategies from the toymaker will reap further dividends come next year’s financial results.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 2 Apr. 2024
Prosecutors can request that the Court of Criminal Appeals review the case, but Mason’s team is hopeful the judgment will stand.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2024
But Khan was hopeful that most people would be happy to compromise for the greater good.
—Peter Guest, WIRED, 26 Mar. 2024
Supporters of Mars Sample Return are hopeful that mission will follow a similar trajectory.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Three years after the gifted artist’s global breakout, her music captures its own slice of the youthful zeitgeist — a post-pandemic sound that is wounded but ultimately hopeful, biting but rarely cynical.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 24 Mar. 2024
Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 28 Mar. 2024
State won a stunning five games in five days, capturing the ACC Tournament title and possibly denying an at-large bid to hopefuls like St. John's, Virginia or Seton Hall.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2024
Earnest TikTokers perhaps do not know that the most prominent wearer of the Polo Ralph Lauren sweater in recent months is, in fact, former GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, who has sported two versions.
—Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024
In Arizona, gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake and other Republicans pulled the same stunt after losing their statewide races, refusing to recognize the results.
—Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
But had these young hopefuls not gained the respect—and financial backing—of their older peers early on, society might never have known the iPhone, Excel or the ‘like’ button.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024
Her passion for life, music and helping others traveled far beyond her own experiences in the business, and into the lives of so many young aspiring singers & hopefuls like me.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2024
Today's top stories Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley will suspend her campaign for the White House today, according to sources familiar with her thinking.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024
Trump continued those attacks against fellow presidential hopefuls during his campaign stop in Clinton, but Biden took on the brunt of his attacks.
—USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Adjective
In a new dating show – with a survival-style twist – hopeful singles need to go through a few hurdles first.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Host Ari Wallach travels around the world to meet the people shaping a hopeful future.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Beyond capturing the hopeful joy that the new season brings, the poem also encapsulates my eagerness for the arrival of all things green: the trees, the flowers and, most importantly, the produce.
—Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
The Kirk Kristiansen family will be hopeful that new growth strategies from the toymaker will reap further dividends come next year’s financial results.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 2 Apr. 2024
Prosecutors can request that the Court of Criminal Appeals review the case, but Mason’s team is hopeful the judgment will stand.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2024
But Khan was hopeful that most people would be happy to compromise for the greater good.
—Peter Guest, WIRED, 26 Mar. 2024
Supporters of Mars Sample Return are hopeful that mission will follow a similar trajectory.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Three years after the gifted artist’s global breakout, her music captures its own slice of the youthful zeitgeist — a post-pandemic sound that is wounded but ultimately hopeful, biting but rarely cynical.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 24 Mar. 2024
Noun
Yee joins a crowded field of Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls in 2026, including former Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 28 Mar. 2024
State won a stunning five games in five days, capturing the ACC Tournament title and possibly denying an at-large bid to hopefuls like St. John's, Virginia or Seton Hall.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2024
Earnest TikTokers perhaps do not know that the most prominent wearer of the Polo Ralph Lauren sweater in recent months is, in fact, former GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, who has sported two versions.
—Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024
In Arizona, gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake and other Republicans pulled the same stunt after losing their statewide races, refusing to recognize the results.
—Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
But had these young hopefuls not gained the respect—and financial backing—of their older peers early on, society might never have known the iPhone, Excel or the ‘like’ button.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024
Her passion for life, music and helping others traveled far beyond her own experiences in the business, and into the lives of so many young aspiring singers & hopefuls like me.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2024
Today's top stories Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley will suspend her campaign for the White House today, according to sources familiar with her thinking.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024
Trump continued those attacks against fellow presidential hopefuls during his campaign stop in Clinton, but Biden took on the brunt of his attacks.
—USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hopeful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hopeful
Cite this Entry
“Hopeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hopeful. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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