Definition of hopeful adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary



    BrE BrE//ˈhəʊpfl//
    ; NAmE NAmE//ˈhoʊpfl//
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  1. 1[not usually before noun] (of a person) believing that something you want will happen synonym optimistic hopeful (that…) I feel hopeful that we'll find a suitable house very soon. hopeful (about something) He is not very hopeful about the outcome of the interview. hopeful (of doing something) (British English) She is hopeful of returning to work soon. opposite pessimistic
  2. 2[only before noun] (of a person’s behaviour) showing hope a hopeful smile
  3. 3(of a thing) making you believe that something you want will happen; bringing hope synonym promising The latest trade figures are a hopeful sign. The future did not seem very hopeful.
  4. Extra examples I feel hopeful that a peaceful solution will be found. Only Janet, eternally hopeful, thought it was worth trying again. She was not very hopeful about her situation. The police are hopeful of catching the thieves. The police remained hopeful that she would be found alive. There are some fairly hopeful signs of recovery in the US market. Things aren’t looking very hopeful at the moment. I feel hopeful that we’ll find a suitable house very soon. This is the first hopeful sign that the hostages might be released soon.
See the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary entry: hopeful

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