hoping

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "hoping" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the sentiment that you are wishing for something to happen in the future. For example, "I'm hoping the weather will be nice this weekend so we can go for a picnic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The parents were hoping he would come with some information for them about where the girls may be and what efforts are being done to recover them, but instead to be told he is not coming was not easy for them.

The Guardian

"I have also heard that others are expecting the exact opposite and are hoping that I will deliver the clear and simple message here in London that the rest of Europe is not prepared to pay almost any price to keep Britain in the EU.

The Guardian

We are now consulting regarding potential legal action and hoping against hope that the 12 libraries being thrown over to the community with the threat of volunteer-or-lose-it, will survive long enough for the future council members to realise their costly error and resume running this vital social and educational service.

The Guardian - Books

Now he will be hoping that promotion for his beloved Norwich FC will provide solace for a crushing and very personal defeat.

The Guardian

They will plough on, hoping that there will eventually be a sustained recovery and that it will be accompanied by a turnaround in the fortunes of their parties.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Everyone is hoping they can be the team to break away but, with so few games to go, I think it looks unlikely.

The Guardian - Sport

The government is hoping to reinstate temporary protection visas, which provide asylum seekers with only three years' protection and deny the visa holder the right to be reunited with their family.

The Guardian

What are you hoping to achieve, what do you think you can achieve for Peter Greste?

The Guardian

Environment minister Greg Hunt has been out and about this morning on the ABC and on the doors at Parliament, "hoping and expecting but not presuming" the new senate will pass the carbon tax repeal bills, driving the final nail into the heart of Labor's emissions trading scheme.

The Guardian

I must prepare myself for death while hoping for a lifeline.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Farage is in a swing through northern cities in a bid to capture the Labour vote, and will not welcome this distraction in the opening days of a campaign in which he is hoping to cause a political earthquake by coming first in the popular vote in the European elections.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hoping" to express a desire or expectation for a future event, especially when the outcome is uncertain but desired. For example, "I am hoping to secure a new job soon."

Common error

Avoid using "hoping" when the outcome is already certain or guaranteed. For instance, instead of saying "I'm hoping the sun will rise tomorrow", which is a certainty, use "expecting" or another appropriate verb for guaranteed events.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hoping" is as a present participle, often forming part of the present continuous tense. It indicates an ongoing action or state of desiring or expecting something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used, for example, "I'm hoping the weather will be sunny tomorrow."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sport

20%

Lifestyle

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "hoping" is a versatile and commonly used present participle, primarily functioning to express a desire, expectation, or anticipation for a future event. Grammatically sound, as affirmed by Ludwig AI, it frequently appears in news media, sports reporting, and lifestyle content. When considering alternative phrasing, options like "expecting", "wishing", and "anticipating" offer nuanced variations in meaning. It's essential to use "hoping" when expressing a genuine desire for an uncertain outcome, avoiding its application to guaranteed events. Overall, "hoping" effectively communicates a sense of optimism and anticipation across diverse contexts, making it a valuable addition to your writing toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wishing

"Wishing" often implies a less realistic chance of the desired outcome compared to "hoping".

expecting

Focuses more on anticipation with a degree of certainty, whereas "hoping" implies a wishful desire.

anticipating

Similar to 'expecting', but leans toward looking forward to something with excitement and pleasure.

desiring

"Desiring" suggests a stronger emotional investment in the outcome than "hoping".

looking forward to

More specific, indicates positive expectation for an upcoming event; "hoping" is more general.

yearning

Expresses a deep longing and persistent desire, stronger and more emotional than simply "hoping".

dreaming of

Implies a more imaginative or aspirational scenario, often less grounded in reality than "hoping".

aspiring to

Suggests ambition and active effort towards a goal; "hoping" can be more passive.

trusting

Implies confidence that something will occur favorably, a subtle difference in certainty compared to "hoping".

relying on

Suggests dependence on something or someone to achieve a desired result, adding an element of dependence not present in "hoping".

FAQs

How can I use "hoping" in a sentence?

"Hoping" is generally used to express a desire for a particular outcome. For example, "I am hoping to get a promotion this year", or "She is hoping to visit her family soon".

What can I say instead of "hoping"?

You can use alternatives like "expecting", "wishing", or "anticipating" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "I hope" or "I am hoping"?

Both "I hope" and "I am hoping" are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "I hope" expresses a general wish or desire, while "I am hoping" suggests an ongoing expectation or anticipation.

What's the difference between "hoping" and "wishing"?

"Hoping" usually implies a degree of possibility or expectation, while "wishing" often suggests a desire for something less likely to happen. For example, you might be "hoping" for good weather tomorrow, but "wishing" for a miracle.