hopeful

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'hopeful' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word 'hopeful' when expressing a sense of optimism or expectation of a favorable outcome. Example sentence: She faced the challenge with a hopeful attitude.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She insists she feels broadly hopeful about the role of her five parishes, but optimism in this context calls for a determination to look on the bright side.

The Guardian

I attended a preview and was hopeful that it would reflect my experiences.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We really are hopeful and doing everything we can to get out of here," Volz said by phone from the Qatari capital, Doha.

The Guardian

He scored the opening goal at Wembley to help Arsenal win the FA Cup, travels to Dublin hopeful of getting another run in his preferred centre-forward position with England against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday, and, best of all, knows that if his one-year-old son spots him on the television he will point at the screen and say "Daddy".

The Guardian - Sport

Now he is hopeful that the Football Association chairman Greg Dyke will use his Commission to help tackle the issue of racism in the game.

The Guardian - Sport

Even before his election in a largely forgotten interview with the youth magazine Chelcheragh, then presidential hopeful Rouhani hinted that even those who don't observe the Islamic veil in the "desired way" can be good people.

The Guardian

Testing takes place this week and all involved are hopeful the column will appear before the end of the month.

The Guardian

And on the right, Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina and others have attacked Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP's) "secrecy" and the lack of transparency in a deal involving 12 nations accounting for 40% of the world economy.

The Guardian

I'm quite confident… I am hopeful that we will win and confident that we put up a good fight.

The Guardian

Two of Britain's biggest pork pie and sausage roll suppliers are hopeful they will be free to earn their crust together after the competition authorities provisionally cleared their merger.

The Guardian - Business

He will have one eye on his fancy for the Grand National, the Jim Culloty-trained Spring Heeled, as well as the Championship table on Saturday afternoon, hopeful his side's position at the summit remains intact following Friday's trip to Brighton.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing people, use "hopeful" to convey their optimistic attitude. When describing situations or prospects, it suggests promise or potential for success.

Common error

Avoid using "hopeful" when the situation is clearly impossible or unrealistic. Use more cautious language to avoid misleading readers.

Linguistic Context

The word "hopeful" functions primarily as an adjective, describing someone or something that is full of hope or inspires hope. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and usability, as evidenced by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sport

25%

Politics

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hopeful" is a common and versatile adjective used to convey optimism and positive expectation. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in written English, and it frequently appears in various contexts, particularly in news, sports, and politics. While synonyms like "optimistic" and "expectant" exist, "hopeful" maintains a unique nuance suitable for a wide range of situations. Remember to use it when you want to express confidence in a favorable outcome or to describe something that inspires hope, but avoid it in contexts where the situation is clearly unrealistic to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

optimistic

Direct synonym, focusing on a generally positive outlook.

full of hope

Expresses the state of being filled with hope.

expectant

Implies anticipation of a specific event or outcome.

looking forward to

Focuses on the positive anticipation of something in the future.

anticipating a positive result

More descriptive, highlighting the expectation of a favorable outcome.

positive about

A more general expression of positivity regarding a situation or outcome.

confident of success

Highlights the confidence in achieving a positive outcome.

with high expectations

Emphasizes the elevated level of anticipation.

buoyant

Suggests a cheerful and optimistic disposition.

trustful

Highlights trust in the potential for a positive result.

FAQs

How can I use "hopeful" in a sentence?

You can use "hopeful" to describe a feeling, as in "I am hopeful that I will recover," or to describe a situation, as in "The economic forecast is hopeful".

What are some synonyms for "hopeful"?

Alternatives include "optimistic", "expectant", or "positive", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "I am hopeful for" something?

While understandable, it's more common and grammatically precise to say "I am hopeful that" followed by a clause, or "I am hopeful about" followed by a noun or gerund phrase.

What is the difference between "hopeful" and "hoping"?

"Hopeful" is an adjective describing a state of mind or a promising situation. "Hoping" is the present participle of the verb "hope," indicating an action or process of hoping.