# hoping

/ˈhoʊpɪŋ/ (US) · /hˈəʊpɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hoping
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. wanting something to happen

verb · CEFR A2

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

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

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

### 2. feeling optimistic

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

feeling or showing a lot of hope.

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

- She gave him a small, hoping smile as he walked toward the stage.
- The poet describes a hoping heart that refuses to surrender to the cold reality of the winter landscape.

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

## Examples

- I am hoping to see you at the party tonight.
- The farmers are hoping for rain after several weeks of dry weather damaged their crops.
- Economists are hoping that the recent adjustment in interest rates will stabilize the market without triggering a significant increase in unemployment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.