harbor hope

USAGE SUMMARY

"harbor hope" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts where you want to express the idea of holding onto or nurturing hope, especially in challenging situations. Example: "Despite the difficulties, she continued to harbor hope for a better future." Alternative expressions include "hold onto hope," "nurture hope," and "maintain hope."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Does City still harbor hope of catching and overtaking United?

The New York Times

Wang Lixiong, the Chinese writer who has correctly predicted Tibetan unrest before, wrote not along ago, "While the Dalai Lama is still alive... Tibetans harbor hope.

The New Yorker

Some participants harbor hope that, like Tunisia for the Arab world, Spain will be the springboard for a peaceful European uprising.

The New York Times

"I guess I harbor hope, but realistically, when you're away from the game for two-and-a-half years, what you were once is not what you will probably be – your skills do erode, especially when you're not in shape and not in top football shape," Caldwell told reporters at the team's training camp.

The Guardian - Sport

SAG HARBOR "Hope's Journey," the Retreat Art Show competition winner Jeanette Martone, graphite portraits of women, children and animals.

The New York Times

SAG HARBOR "Hope's Journey," graphite portraits of women, children and animals by the Retreat Art Show competition winner Jeanette Martone.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Most harbor hopes of playing professionally.

The New York Times - Sports

Top officials in Berlin had been careful not to criticize Mr. Draghi but seemed to still harbor hopes that they could find another German candidate.

The New York Times

Allies of the president and his party, the Democrats, harbor hopes that ousting Mr. Halid would weaken the Golkar Party, Mr. Ambardi said.

The New York Times

While all of those players harbor hopes, Love will be difficult to beat if he plays with the confidence he has displayed so far this year.

The New York Times - Sports

Many students, for example, harbor hopes of turning their own ideas into companies, reaping the financial benefits of initial public offerings.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

The phrase works best in formal or narrative contexts where you want to emphasize that the person is 'sheltering' an emotion despite external difficulties.

Common error

Avoid using "harbor hope" when you simply mean 'expecting' a short-term result. The verb 'harbor' implies a deep-seated or long-term containment of a feeling. For immediate or casual expectations, consider using 'expect' or 'expecting'.

Linguistic Context

Grammatically, "harbor hope" functions as a transitive verb phrase where 'harbor' acts as the verb and 'hope' as the direct object. According to Ludwig, the phrase is standard and correct for expressing the internal maintenance of a belief. In many instances, it is preceded by an auxiliary verb or used in the infinitive form, such as 'to "harbor hope"'.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Social Media

15%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "harbor hope" is a precise and emotionally resonant phrase used to describe the persistent maintenance of optimism in challenging circumstances. Ludwig AI demonstrates its frequent appearance in high-quality journalism, particularly when discussing long-term political or personal struggles. The phrase carries a connotation of 'protecting' a feeling, which distinguishes it from simpler alternatives like 'hope' or 'expect'. Whether you use the American spelling or the British "harbour hope", it remains a powerful tool for formal and narrative writing when you wish to convey depth of conviction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold out hope

Implies a more active expectation or waiting for a specific outcome

nurse hope

Suggests tending to a feeling that might otherwise fade

nurture hope

Indicates a more positive and growth-oriented maintenance of optimism

cling to hope

Adds a connotation of desperation or refusal to give up in the face of failure

cherish hope

Places a high emotional value on the feeling of hope itself

sustain hope

Focuses on the endurance and longevity of the optimistic state

maintain hope

A more clinical or steady way to describe not giving up

preserve hope

Implies protecting the feeling from being destroyed by external cynicism

foster hope

Commonly used when an external force encourages hope in others

keep hope alive

A more idiomatic and emphatic way to express preventing the loss of optimism

FAQs

How to use harbor hope in a sentence?

You can use it to describe persistent optimism, such as: 'Despite the clinical trials being inconclusive, the family continued to "harbor hope" for a recovery.' It is similar to using "hold out hope".

What is the difference between harbor hope and harbor hopes?

The singular "harbor hope" often refers to the general state of being hopeful, while the plural "harbor hopes" usually refers to specific expectations or multiple desired outcomes.

Is it harbor hope or harbour hope?

Both are correct. "harbor hope" is the American English spelling, while "harbour hope" is the standard British English spelling used in the UK, Canada, and Australia.

What can I say instead of harbor hope?

Depending on the tone, you could use "nurse hope" for a delicate feeling, "cling to hope" for a desperate one, or "nurture hope" for a more positive sentiment.