ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hoping

v. · adj.
US //ˈhoʊpɪŋ// UK //hˈəʊpɪŋ// hop·ing
  1. 1 wanting something to happen (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    wanting something to be true or to happen in the future.

    the present participle of 'hope', used to form continuous tenses or as a gerund to express a desire for a particular event to occur.

    Example

    We are hoping for good weather during our beach holiday next week.

    Example

    The researchers are hoping that the preliminary data will secure further funding for the clinical trials scheduled for next year.

    Usage

    Often followed by 'for' + noun or a 'that' clause.
    Pitfall
    I am hoping of a good result.
    I am hoping for a good result.

    Use the preposition 'for' after 'hoping' when you want a specific thing to happen.

  2. 2 feeling optimistic (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    feeling or showing a lot of hope.

    characterised by or inspiring hope; used to describe a person's state of mind or the nature of a situation.

    Example

    She gave him a small, hoping smile as he walked toward the stage.

    Example

    The poet describes a hoping heart that refuses to surrender to the cold reality of the winter landscape.

    Teacher's tip

    This adjectival use is rare in modern English; 'hopeful' is almost always preferred in everyday speech and writing.
Origin

From hope + -ing. Cognate with German Hoffnung (“hope”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 19, 2026