Hope

/həʊp/ name, noun, verb

name, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: The feeling of trust, confidence, belief or expectation that something wished for can or will happen.
  • Grammar: hope is listed as name, noun, verb.
  • Nearest alternatives: acceptation, acception, ache for, acquiescence.
  • Useful contrasts: discouraged, alas, be defeated.
  • Usage evidence: I hope he'll be able to come! I'd like to see him.

How to use "hope"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "hope" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "hope" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "hope" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "hope" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "hope" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "acceptation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "hope", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The feeling of trust, confidence, belief or expectation that something wished for can or will happen. countable, uncountable

    "All hopes for a truce are gone after the latest attack."

  2. 2
    A hollow; a valley, especially the upper end of a narrow mountain valley when it is nearly encircled by smooth, green slopes; a combe. Northern-England, Scotland
  3. 3
    A sloping plain between mountain ridges.
  4. 4
    one of the three Christian virtues wordnet
  5. 5
    The actual thing wished for. countable
Show 7 more definitions
  1. 6
    A small bay; an inlet; a haven. Scotland

    "Being by contrarie winds driuen to staie against Erith, at Grauesend, in Tilberie hope."

  2. 7
    grounds for feeling hopeful about the future wordnet
  3. 8
    A person or thing that is a source of hope. countable

    "We still have one hope left: my roommate might see the note I left on the table."

  4. 9
    a specific instance of feeling hopeful wordnet
  5. 10
    The virtuous desire for future good. uncountable

    "But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love."

  6. 11
    the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled wordnet
  7. 12
    someone (or something) on which expectations are centered wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To want (something) to happen, with a sense of expectation that it might [with that (+ clause); or (informal) with clause; or with so or (negative) not].

    "They are hoping it does not rain, but I expect it will."

  2. 2
    intend with some possibility of fulfilment wordnet
  3. 3
    To intend to do something and look forward to the prospect of having done it [with to (+ infinitive)]. catenative

    "I hope to succeed."

  4. 4
    be optimistic; be full of hope; have hopes wordnet
  5. 5
    To expect optimistically that one might get something (either a change in circumstance or an object) [with for]. intransitive

    "They're hoping for the best, but I don't think it's looking very good."

Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    expect and wish wordnet
  2. 7
    To place confidence; to trust with confident expectation of good [with in]. intransitive

    "I hope in thy word."

  3. 8
    To wish. dialectal, nonstandard, transitive

    "I hope you all the best."

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A female given name from English from the virtue, like Faith and Charity first used by Puritans. uncountable, usually

    "Hope Hicks, one of the President’s longest-serving aides, warned Parscale against touting ticket request numbers, reminding him that the number one rule in politics is not to overpromise and underdeliver, a source familiar with the matter said."

  2. 2
    An English and Scottish topographic surname from Middle English for someone who lived in a hope, a small enclosed valley. uncountable, usually
  3. 3
    A male given name transferred from the surname. rare, uncountable, usually
  4. 4
    A place name, including:; A place in Canada:; A town and district municipality in British Columbia. uncountable, usually
  5. 5
    A place name, including:; A place in Canada:; A community in the city of Vaughan, Regional Municipality of York, Ontario. uncountable, usually
Show 28 more definitions
  1. 6
    A place name, including:; A place in Canada:; A township municipality in Bonaventure Regional County Municipality, Quebec. uncountable, usually
  2. 7
    A place name, including:; A settlement near Richmond, Tasman district, New Zealand. uncountable, usually
  3. 8
    A place name, including:; A place in the United Kingdom:; A village and civil parish in High Peak borough, Derbyshire, England (OS grid ref SK1783). uncountable, usually
  4. 9
    A place name, including:; A place in the United Kingdom:; A hamlet in Worthen with Shelve parish, Shropshire, England (OS grid ref SJ3401). uncountable, usually
  5. 10
    A place name, including:; A place in the United Kingdom:; A hamlet in Alstonefield parish, Staffordshire Moorlands district, Staffordshire, England (OS grid ref SK1255). uncountable, usually
  6. 11
    A place name, including:; A place in the United Kingdom:; A village and community in Flintshire, Wales (OS grid ref SJ3058). uncountable, usually
  7. 12
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. uncountable, usually
  8. 13
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in La Paz County, Arizona. uncountable, usually
  9. 14
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A city, the county seat of Hempstead County, Arkansas. uncountable, usually
  10. 15
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A minor city in Bonner County, Idaho. uncountable, usually
  11. 16
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A township in LaSalle County, Illinois. uncountable, usually
  12. 17
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Vermilion County, Illinois. uncountable, usually
  13. 18
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A town in Haw Creek Township, Bartholomew County, Indiana. uncountable, usually
  14. 19
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A township and minor city therein, in Dickinson County, Kansas. uncountable, usually
  15. 20
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Kentucky. uncountable, usually
  16. 21
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A town in Knox County, Maine. uncountable, usually
  17. 22
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A township in Barry County, Michigan. uncountable, usually
  18. 23
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A township and unincorporated community therein, in Midland County, Michigan. uncountable, usually
  19. 24
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A township in Lincoln County, Minnesota. uncountable, usually
  20. 25
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Osage County, Missouri. uncountable, usually
  21. 26
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A township and census-designated place therein, in Warren County, New Jersey. uncountable, usually
  22. 27
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A village in Eddy County, New Mexico. uncountable, usually
  23. 28
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A town in Hamilton County, New York. uncountable, usually
  24. 29
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A minor city in Steele County, North Dakota. uncountable, usually
  25. 30
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Brown Township, Vinton County, Ohio. uncountable, usually
  26. 31
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A neighbourhood of Providence, Rhode Island. uncountable, usually
  27. 32
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in the town of Cottage Grove and city of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. uncountable, usually
  28. 33
    A place name, including:; A number of places in the United States:; A settlement on Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands. uncountable, usually

Synonyms

All synonyms
acceptationacceptionache foracquiescenceaimambition

Antonyms

discouragedalasbe defeatedbleakness

Example

"I hope he'll be able to come! I'd like to see him."

Common questions

What does "hope" mean?

The feeling of trust, confidence, belief or expectation that something wished for can or will happen.

What is a synonym for "hope"?

Common synonyms include: acceptation, acception, ache for, acquiescence, aim, ambition.

How do you use "hope" in a sentence?

I hope he'll be able to come! I'd like to see him.

How do you pronounce "hope"?

Pronounced /həʊp/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English hopen, from Old English hopian (“hope”), from Proto-West Germanic *hopōn, further etymology unclear. Cognates Cognate with Saterland Frisian, West Frisian hoopje (“to hope”), Cimbrian hòffan (“to hope”), Dutch hopen (“to hope”), German, Luxembourgish hoffen (“to hope”), Vilamovian höfnan (“hope”), Yiddish האָפֿן (hofn, “to hope”), Danish håbe (“to hope”), Norwegian Bokmål håpe (“to hope”), Norwegian Nynorsk håpa, håpe (“to hope”), Swedish hoppas (“to hope”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English hope, from Old English hopa (“hope, expectation”), from the same source as the verb hope. Eclipsed non-native early modern English esperance, borrowed from Middle French esperance.

Etymology 3

From Middle English hope (“a valley”), from Old English hōp (found only in placenames). More at hoop.

Etymology 4

From Icelandic hóp (“a small bay or inlet”). Cognate with English hoop.

More for "hope"

Synonyms

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