verb

hope

HOHP

verb

To want something to happen and believe it might.

"I hope you feel better soon."

"We hope to visit Japan next spring."

noun

A feeling of trust or expectation that something good will happen.

"She never lost hope that things would improve."

"There's still hope for a peaceful resolution."

How to Use Hope

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWanting and expecting something good to happen.

Common mistake

"Hope" implies a real chance of happening; "wish" is often used for things that are unlikely or impossible ("I wish I could fly").

Easily confused with

wish →

Common pairings

hope for the best lose hope give up hope hope so

Word Forms

hoped past tense, hope plural, hoped plural, hopes plural, hopes plural, hopes plural, Hopes plural, hopes singular, hope singular, hoped singular, hopest singular, hopedst singular, hopeth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

I _____ you feel better soon.

Etymology

From Old English hopian, "to hope," of uncertain deeper origin but shared with several other Germanic languages.

Rhymes for hope

ope pope mope rope dope lope nope cope slope grope scope elope

See all rhymes for hope →