hopeful
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.feeling or showing that you want something to happen and think it is possible.
adj.experiencing or expressing optimism regarding a future outcome.
Simple“The students are hopeful that the exam results will be released early.”
In context“Despite the initial setbacks, the research team remained hopeful that their hypothesis would eventually be validated by the clinical trials.”
Usageoften followed by 'that' or 'about'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.giving you a reason to believe that something good will happen.
adj.providing grounds for optimism or promising a positive result.
Simple“The doctor gave us some hopeful news about my grandfather's recovery.”
In context“The recent economic data provided a hopeful sign that the recession might be shorter than analysts had originally predicted.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.a person who is trying to get a job, win a prize, or be elected.
n.an individual who aspires to a particular position, such as a political office or a role in a competition.
Simple“Thousands of young hopefuls arrived at the stadium for the singing competition.”
In context“The presidential hopefuls gathered for the first televised debate to outline their respective visions for the country's infrastructure.”
Usageoften preceded by a descriptive noun like 'presidential' or 'Olympic'.
Teacher's tipThis is a nominalised adjective; it is most common in journalism and political reporting.
From hope + -ful.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.