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
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Nov. 2024
Gram Slattery and James Oliphant, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2024
Other buzzy Oscar hopefuls include Ireland’s Sundance breakout Kneecap, about the real-life West Belfast rap trio of the same name, and Latvian animation Flow, about a solitary cat forced to cooperate with other animals to survive a flood.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hopeful 
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Adjective
The discussion concluded on a hopeful note regarding new talent.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
Trump's parade of giveaways comes at a time when presidential hopefuls are typically busy fine-tuning existing proposals rather than making a host of new ones with little acknowledgment of the fiscal cost to be paid down the road.
—Gram Slattery and James Oliphant, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2024
Other buzzy Oscar hopefuls include Ireland’s Sundance breakout Kneecap, about the real-life West Belfast rap trio of the same name, and Latvian animation Flow, about a solitary cat forced to cooperate with other animals to survive a flood.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hopeful
Dictionary Entries Near hopeful
Cite this Entry
“Hopeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hopeful. Accessed 1 Dec. 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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