hope Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a specific instance of feeling hopeful
    • it revived their hope of winning the pennant
  2. noun the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled
    • in spite of his troubles he never gave up hope
  3. noun grounds for feeling hopeful about the future
    promise.
    • there is little or no promise that he will recover
  4. noun someone (or something) on which expectations are centered
    • he was their best hope for a victory
  5. noun United States comedian (born in England) who appeared in films with Bing Crosby (1903-2003)
    Leslie Townes Hope; Bob Hope.
  6. noun one of the three Christian virtues
  7. verb expect and wish
    desire; trust.
    • I trust you will behave better from now on
    • I hope she understands that she cannot expect a raise
  8. verb be optimistic; be full of hope; have hopes
    • I am still hoping that all will turn out well
  9. verb intend with some possibility of fulfilment
    go for.
    • I hope to have finished this work by tomorrow evening

WordNet

Hope noun
Etymology
Cf. Icel. hop a small bay or inlet.
Definitions
  1. A sloping plain between mountain ridges. Obs.
  2. A small bay; an inlet; a haven. Scot. Jamieson.
Hope noun
Etymology
AS., akin to D. hoop, hope, Sw. hopp, Dan. haab, MHG. hoffe. Hope in forlorn hope is different word. See Forlorn hope, under Forlorn.
Definitions
  1. A desire of some good, accompanied with an expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable; an expectation of something which is thought to be desirable; confidence; pleasing expectancy.
    The hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job vii. 13.
    He wished, but not with hope. Milton.
    New thoughts of God, new hopes of Heaven. Keble.
  2. One who, or that which, gives hope, furnishes ground of expectation, or promises desired good.
    The Lord will be the hope of his people. Joel iii. 16.
    A young gentleman of great hopes, whose love of learning was highly commendable. Macaulay.
  3. That which is hoped for; an object of hope.
    Lavina is thine elder brother's hope. Shak.
Hope intransitive verb
Etymology
AS. hopian; akin to D. hopen, Sw. hopp, Dan. haabe, G. hoffen. See 2nd Hope.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Hoped ; present participle & verbal noun Hoping
Definitions
  1. To entertain or indulge hope; to cherish a desire of good, or of something welcome, with expectation of obtaining it or belief that it is obtainable; to expect; -- usually followed by for. "Hope for good success." Jer. Taylor.
    But I will hope continually. Ps. lxxi. 14.
  2. To place confidence; to trust with confident expectation of good; -- usually followed by in. "I hope in thy word." Ps. cxix. 81.
    Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God. Ps. xlii. 11.
Hope transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To desire with expectation or with belief in the possibility or prospect of obtaining; to look forward to as a thing desirable, with the expectation of obtaining it; to cherish hopes of.
    We hope no other from your majesty. Shak.
    [Charity] hopeth all things. 1 Cor. xiii. 7.
  2. To expect; to fear. Obs. "I hope he will be dead." Chaucer. ✍ Hope is often used colloquially regarding uncertainties, with no reference to the future. "I hope she takes me to be flesh and blood." Mrs. Centlivre.

Webster 1913