did not hope

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did not hope" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a lack of expectation or desire for a particular outcome in a past context. Example: "She did not hope for a positive response after the interview, given how it went."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The village did not hope for healing.

Stanford University

Mr. Brunn did not hope for applause.

The New York Times

Voltaire himself did not hope that all his vast quantity of writings would be remembered by posterity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Indeed we did not hope for this sort of harsh and negative political stance and undemocratic rhetoric from our Nobel peace laureate".

The Guardian

They did not take their hostages for the purpose of negotiations and it is quite clear that they did not hope to leave the scene alive.

The New York Times

They did not hope for victory so much as they expected it, this nation that came to embrace cycling over the past decade, home to a fancy Olympic velodrome and the most recent Tour de France champion.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

He didn't hope for decent treatment, only for survival.

The New Yorker

When there was no reason to hope, I didn't hope.

The New York Times - Magazine

Apparently I didn't hope hard enough.

TechCrunch

They wouldn't be in this game if they didn't hope to rake it in.

Forbes

Didn't Hope stand for more than just entertainment?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "did not hope", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for the absence of hope, making the statement more impactful.

Common error

Avoid using "did not hope" when the intention is to convey a lack of effort or action. "Did not hope" refers specifically to a feeling or expectation, not to active attempts to achieve something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not hope" functions as a negative declarative statement indicating a lack of hope in a past context. It typically modifies a subject by describing their state of mind or expectation, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "did not hope" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, used to convey a lack of expectation or desire in a past context. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous real-world examples. While the phrase isn't exceptionally common, it appears across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and academic settings. To diversify your writing, consider alternatives like "didn't expect" or "held no hope". When using "did not hope", ensure the context is clear and effectively emphasizes the absence of a positive expectation. Overall, "did not hope" is a reliable phrase for expressing past disillusionment or realism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

didn't expect

A direct synonym, indicating a lack of prior belief.

held no hope

Highlights the absence of a hopeful feeling.

had no expectation

Emphasizes a lack of anticipation for a particular outcome.

felt no hope

Focuses on the emotional aspect of lacking hope.

didn't anticipate

Focuses on the absence of foreseeing something.

was without hope

Stresses the complete absence of hope.

was not optimistic

Indicates a general lack of positive outlook.

had no anticipation

Highlights a lack of expecting something specific.

didn't foresee

Focuses on the inability to see something coming.

lacked expectation

Highlights the deficiency in expecting an outcome.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "did not hope" to sound more formal?

You can use phrases such as "held no expectation" or "harbored no hope" to convey a more formal tone.

Is there a subtle difference between "did not expect" and "did not hope"?

"Did not expect" implies a lack of anticipation based on reason or experience, while "did not hope" suggests a lack of desire or wish for a certain outcome, even if it's unlikely. They are similar, but "did not expect" is more neutral.

Can "did not hope" be used in the present tense?

No, "did not hope" is specifically used to describe a past state. In the present tense, you would use "do not hope" or "don't hope".

What are some common situations where I might use "did not hope"?

You might use "did not hope" when describing a situation with a negative outlook, such as "After the storm, the villagers "did not hope" for rescue before morning" or when recalling a past lack of expectation.