dim hope

USAGE SUMMARY

"dim hope" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to a feeling of faint and uncertain hope, especially when hope is fading. For example: "The prisoner felt a dim hope rising in his chest as he heard the guard's footsteps fading down the hall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

And when I most needed it, I found I could summon it — that mad, dim hope.

The New York Times - Magazine

"What keeps a man alive?" For him the answer is affection for others, memories of home, language itself and some dim hope of survival.

The New York Times - Books

Right then, as she was airborne, my hand twitched and slapped my pocket, in the dim hope that I could locate my camera, pull it out, and shoot while the moment still held.

The New Yorker

(He is now an artist, too; the fact that Ivanka Trump owns his work was recently cited as a dim hope that she might prevail upon her father not to eliminate federal funding for the arts).

The New Yorker

No matter how obvious the retaliation had been, no matter how clearly it had been signaled from Washington, some people still carried a dim hope that Osama bin Laden might be caught and a full-scale military strike avoided.

The New York Times

Sachin Bansal, who is not related to Binny, said in an interview that their parents, who are from Chandigarh, worried that their children were being rash by giving up coveted jobs at a successful American company, Amazon, for the dim hope of launching India's answer to that online giant.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

She has no savings, no investments, dim hopes.

The New York Times

The dim hopes for rescue kindled into demands for recovery, led by the West Bengal government.

The New York Times - Sports

Waiting and clock-watching can dim hopes, but then the food arrives and irritation vanishes.

The New York Times - Food

With the death this week of keyboardist Rick Wright, the dim hopes for another Pink Floyd reunion finally faded.

Independent

Everything — my reputation, my country, my dim hopes for a civilized future — hung on whether I could disarm the hand grenade.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dim hope" to convey a sense of faint or fading hope, often in situations where the odds are against a positive outcome. It adds a nuanced layer of emotion to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "dim hope" when the situation warrants a more positive or certain expression of hope. Using it inappropriately can create a sense of pessimism where it's not intended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dim hope" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where the adjective "dim" modifies the noun "hope". This specifies the tenuous and uncertain nature of the hope being described. This is supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dim hope" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that conveys a sense of faint and uncertain hope. It's most frequently found in News & Media contexts, where it is used to describe situations with a low probability of a positive outcome. While versatile, it's essential to avoid overusing it in optimistic contexts, as it can create unintended pessimism. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides ample examples of its usage in credible sources. Alternative phrases like "faint hope" or "slim chance" can be used for similar effect depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

faint hope

Indicates a weak or slight degree of hope.

slim chance

Highlights the low probability of a positive outcome.

remote possibility

Emphasizes the unlikelihood of something happening.

waning hope

Suggests that hope is decreasing or fading away.

flickering hope

Implies that hope is unstable and may disappear at any moment.

feeble hope

Describes hope as weak and lacking strength.

slight expectation

Refers to a minimal anticipation of a favorable result.

small prospect

Indicates a limited outlook or potential for success.

minimal optimism

Highlights a very low level of positive outlook.

tenuous expectation

Emphasizes the fragile and uncertain nature of the expectation.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "dim hope" in a sentence?

Use "dim hope" when you want to express a small, uncertain feeling of hope, especially when the situation seems bleak. For example, "Despite the setbacks, a "dim hope" remained that they would find a solution."

What are some alternatives to "dim hope"?

You can use alternatives like "faint hope", "slim chance", or "remote possibility" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "dim hope"?

Yes, "dim hope" is grammatically correct. "Dim" is an adjective modifying the noun "hope", creating a phrase that describes the quality of the hope.

What's the difference between "dim hope" and "strong hope"?

"Dim hope" suggests a faint or weak feeling of hope, while "strong hope" indicates a confident and powerful feeling of hope. The choice depends on the degree of optimism you want to convey.