May we count your visit with Google Analytics? It uses cookies and sends visit data to Google. You can change this any time under Cookie choices. Privacy

 Browse the A to Z list

Hopeful

adj. hopeful, resilient everyday

What it means

Seeing a credible path toward a welcome outcome.

Reach for it when encouraging someone without pretending success is certain

The new test results left the doctors hopeful about her recovery.

How strong it is

  1. subtle UpbeatHopeful
  2. noticeable EncouragedHeartened
  3. strong OptimisticExpectant
  4. intense ConfidentInspired
  5. peak BuoyantSanguine

Hopeful is subtle (1 of 5) among the hope words, from subtle to peak. The scale compares words; it does not measure a person. All hope words

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
everyday
warm
professional
formal
literary

  • everyday

    optimistic

    Fits when a generally positive expectation is the main idea

    Careful Optimistic can ignore risk, while hopeful can coexist with uncertainty.

  • everyday

    positive

    Fits when you want broad, accessible language for a constructive outlook

    Careful Positive is vague and may describe attitude without any expected outcome.

  • warm

    encouraged

    Fits when specific progress has increased someone's confidence

    Careful It requires a cause; a person may be hopeful before receiving any evidence.

  • professional

    confident

    Fits when belief in success is comparatively strong

    Careful Genuine doubt makes hopeful more accurate than confident.

  • professional

    promising

    Fits when evidence suggests that a plan, person, or result may succeed

    Careful Do not substitute it for someone's own feeling; promising evaluates their prospects.

  • formal

    sanguine

    Fits when calm optimism persists despite difficulty

    Careful Its uncommon register can distract in a card or everyday encouragement.

  • literary

    buoyant

    Fits when spirits remain light and resilient

    Careful Buoyant describes mood more than a reasoned expectation.

  • literary

    expectant

    Fits when hope includes alert anticipation of something approaching

    Careful Expectant can imply a near or specific event that hopeful does not.

Opposites 3

  • hopeless
  • pessimistic
  • discouraged

Common phrases 3

  • feel hopeful

    After seeing the repaired classrooms, families began to feel hopeful again.

  • hopeful sign

    The first returning birds are a hopeful sign for the restored wetland.

  • cautiously hopeful

    The engineers remain cautiously hopeful while the final load tests continue.

Word family 2

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Naomi Persephone Amethyst, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated