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hope

SayHOHP/hoʊp/UK/həʊp/

Verbhopes, hoping, hoped

Noun pluralhopes

10 meanings of hope

Practice

  1. 1
    want to happenverbtransitive or intransitive
    To want something to happen or be true and think that it might.

    I hope the rain stops before the game starts.

    We hope you can come to the party next week.

    UsageSay I hope so or I hope not (not incorrect: I don't hope so).

    Oppositedespair, fear

  2. 2
    nouncountable or uncountable
    A good feeling that something you want will happen.

    Like a small light that keeps you going when things are hard.

    She felt a strong sense of hope as the rescue team arrived.

    Even after the bad news, he never lost hope.

    UsageSay full of hope or give up hope.

    Similaroptimism, faith, expectation, confidence, trust

    Oppositedespair, hopelessness, pessimism, despondency

    Note
  3. 3
    nouncountable
    The thing that you want and wish for.

    Her biggest hope was a small house near the sea.

    His greatest hope was to see his son finish college.

    Similardream, wish, aspiration, ambition, desire

  4. 4
    noununcountable
    A chance that something you want will happen, often used to say the chance is small or there is none.

    With all this traffic, there's no hope of getting to the airport on time.

    Our team doesn't have much hope of winning against the champions.

    UsageSay no hope of + -ing: no hope of winning.

    Similarchance, prospect, possibility

    Note
  5. 5
    best betnouncountable
    A person or thing that makes others feel hopeful.

    Like the one player everyone on the team is counting on to win.

    The young doctor was the village's only hope.

    That new medicine is a real hope for many sick people.

    UsageSay our last hope or our only hope.

    Similarchance, bet, prospect, salvation

  6. 6
    virtuenoununcountable
    In Christian teaching, one of three main virtues: trusting God and looking forward to life with God.

    The sermon spoke about faith, love, and hope.

    The priest told us that hope is a virtue we can grow in every day.

    Oppositedespair

    Note
  7. 7
    verbdialectaltransitive
    To wish that someone will have something good, like luck or a safe trip.

    UsageSay I wish you luck. With hope, say I hope you have fun.

    Similarwish

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 8
    trust inverbintransitive
    To trust someone or something fully and expect good to come.

    Many people hope in God when life gets hard.

    She has always hoped in the Lord, even in sad times.

    UsageUsed with in (hope in God), unlike hope for, which is used for something you want to happen.

    Similartrust, believe

    Note
  2. 9
    upper valleynoundialectalNorthern EnglandScotlandcountable
    A small valley or low area of land with hills or ridges around it.

    Similarvalley, hollow, dale, glen

    Note
  3. 10
    small baynoundialectalScotlandcountable
    A small bay or inlet along a coast that makes a safe harbor.
    Being by contrarie winds driuen to staie against Erith, at Grauesend, in Tilberie hope.
    1587, Abraham Fleming, Holinshed's ChroniclesHere, hope means a small bay along the coast where ships can shelter.

    Similarinlet, cove, bay, haven

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of hope apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 7–8

From Old English hopian, meaning "to hope." Its deeper origin is unclear.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Meanings 2–6

From Old English hopa, meaning "hope" or "expectation."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

  • The noun hope derives from Old English hopa, meaning hope or expectation. en.wiktionary.org
Meaning 9

From Old English hop, meaning "a valley," found chiefly in place names.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Meaning 10

From Icelandic hóp, meaning "a small bay or inlet."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts