Hope – Meaning in English

Word: Hope

Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
Pronunciation: /hoʊp/
Category: General

Hope Definition

Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. As a verb, it means to want something to happen or be true.

Usage Notes

Hope is often followed by 'for' or 'that' when used as a verb.

Example Sentences

  • I hope to see you soon.
  • They have high hopes for their children.
  • She's hoping for a promotion.
  • We hope that you enjoy the show.
  • I hope you're feeling better.
  • They're still hoping against hope that he'll be found.

Synonyms (Similar Words)

  • Expectation
  • Anticipation
  • Optimism
  • Faith
  • Trust
  • Belief
  • Confidence
  • Assurance
  • Aspiration
  • Wish

Antonyms (Opposite Words)

  • Despair
  • Pessimism
  • Hopelessness
  • Doubt
  • Disbelief
  • Mistrust
  • Discouragement
  • Cynicism
  • Desolation
  • Gloom

Idioms and Phrases

  • Hope against hope – To hope without any basis for expecting fulfillment
  • Live in hope – To be optimistic despite difficult circumstances
  • Hope for the best – To be optimistic that a good outcome will occur
  • Hope springs eternal – People can always find a reason to hope, even in the bleakest situations
  • Pin your hopes on – To depend on someone or something for success or progress

Word Origin and History

Old English hopa (noun), hopian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoop (noun), hopen (verb), and German hoffen (verb).