hope

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.

   He's still hoping that everything will turn out fine.

   — Is he going to shut up soon? — I hope so.

   I'm going to get a new car. I hope it will be better than the last one.

2. 2

   To intend to do something and look forward to the prospect of having done it [with to (+ infinitive)].

   I hope to succeed.

   I hope to be going back again soon.

   I was hoping to find a pair of jeans, but I couldn't.

   He looked round the poor room, at the distempered walls, and the bad engravings in meretricious frames, the crinkly paper and wax flowers on the chiffonier; and he thought of a room like Father Bryan's, with panelling, with cut glass, with tulips in silver pots, such a room as he had hoped to have for his own.

3. 3

   To expect optimistically that one might get something (either a change in circumstance or an object) [with for].

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

   I'm hoping for my boss to offer me a pay raise.

   He's past hoping for any improvement.

4. 4

   To place confidence; to trust with confident expectation of good [with in].

   I hope in thy word.

   Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God.

5. 5

   To wish.

   I hope you all the best.

noun

1. 1

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

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

   After losing my job, there's frail hope of affording my world cruise.

   There is still hope that we can find our missing cat.

   My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out.

2. 2

   The actual thing wished for.

3. 3

   A person or thing that is a source of hope.

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

4. 4

   The virtuous desire for future good.

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

noun

1. 1

   A hollow; a valley, especially the upper end of a narrow mountain valley when it is nearly encircled by smooth, green slopes; a combe.

noun

1. 1

   A sloping plain between mountain ridges.

2. 2

   A small bay; an inlet; a haven.

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

   A little hamlet which straggled along the side of a creek formed by the discharge of a small brook into the sea[…]It was called Wolf's Hope (i.e. Wolf's Haven).

Forms

plural

hopes

past tense

hoped

past participle

hoped

present participle

hoping

third person singular

hopes