hopeful
n. countablen. a person who is trying to get a job, a prize, or a place on a team. You often see this word used for people entering a competition or a political race.
n. a person who aspires to or is a candidate for a specific position, award, or achievement. Often used in the context of sports, politics, or entertainment to describe those seeking success in a competitive field.
The young hopeful waits for his turn to audition.
Dozens of Olympic hopefuls gathered at the stadium to compete for a spot on the national team.
The primary election narrowed the field of presidential hopefuls down to two main candidates, each representing a vastly different vision for the country's economic future.
From hope + -ful.
Commonly preceded by a modifier describing the specific goal, such as 'Oscar hopeful' or 'leadership hopeful'.