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hope

/həʊp/ (Received-Pronunciation)/hoʊp/ (General-American)/həʉp/ (Australia)syllables: hope
  • verb
  • noun
  • from Old English

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].

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1 All current definitions

Every sense of “hope” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.

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

    I hope to succeed.

  3. intransitiveTo 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.

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

    I hope in thy word.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms cxix:81:

  5. dialectalnonstandardtransitiveTo wish.

    I hope you all the best.

Wiktionary: “hope” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

noun · etymology 2

  1. countableuncountableThe 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.

  2. countableThe actual thing wished for.
  3. countableA 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. uncountableThe virtuous desire for future good.

    But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Corinthians 13:13:

Wiktionary: “hope” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

noun · etymology 3

  1. Northern EnglandScotlandA hollow; a valley, especially the upper end of a narrow mountain valley when it is nearly encircled by smooth, green slopes; a combe.
Wiktionary: “hope” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

noun · etymology 4

  1. A sloping plain between mountain ridges.
  2. ScotlandA small bay; an inlet; a haven.

    Being by contrarie winds driuen to staie against Erith, at Grauesend, in Tilberie hope.1587, Abraham Fleming, Holinshed's Chronicles:

Wiktionary: “hope” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross-check: WordNet senses (9)
  1. nouna specific instance of feeling hopeful
  2. nounthe general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled
  3. noungrounds for feeling hopeful about the future — also: promise
  4. nounsomeone (or something) on which expectations are centered
  5. nounUnited States comedian (born in England) who appeared in films with Bing Crosby (1903-2003) — also: Bob Hope, Leslie Townes Hope
  6. nounone of the three Christian virtues
  7. verbexpect and wish — also: trust, desire
  8. verbbe optimistic; be full of hope; have hopes
  9. verbintend with some possibility of fulfilment — also: go for
Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License

2 History of the word

The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.

Etymology 1 (verb)

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)hope
  2. Middle Englishhopen
  3. Old Englishhopian “hope”
  4. Proto-West Germanic*hopōn

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”).

Wiktionary: “hope” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Etymology 2 (noun)

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)hope
  2. Middle Englishhope
  3. Old Englishhopa “hope, expectation”
  4. Old Englishthe

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.

Wiktionary: “hope” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Etymology 3 (noun)

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)hope
  2. Middle Englishhope “a valley”
  3. Old Englishhōp (found only in placenames)

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

Wiktionary: “hope” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Etymology 4 (noun)

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)hope
  2. Icelandichóp “a small bay or inlet”

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

Wiktionary: “hope” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Derivatives — words built from “hope”

behopemishopeoverhopehopeablyhopecorehopedicthopedictionhopefulhopeiumhopelesshopemaxxhopemongerhopenosishopepunkhoperhopewardHopewellhopiumno-hoperunderhopeunhopewanhope

Phrases & compounds

can but hopecross my heart and hope to diehere's hopinghit and hopehoped forhope for the best, prepare for the worstI hope I may be shotI hope she sees thisI hope you're happyshould hopewould hopeabandon hope, all ye who enter hereall hope abandon ye who enter herebeacon of hopeBuckley's hopeCape of Good Hopedash someone's hopesget one's hopes upglimmer of hopegreat white hope

Related terms

aspiredesireexpectlook forwardwantforlorn hope
Wiktionary: “hope” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Want to go deeper? See also “hope” on Etymonline ↗

3 Original language

Where “hope” came from before it was English.

Etymology 1 (verb)

Native English word, from
Old English
Old English hopian “hope”
Deepest root (reconstructed)
Proto-West Germanic
Proto-West Germanic *hopōn

The source marks part of this history as uncertain (it uses words like “perhaps” or “possibly”). Read the full etymology above before treating any single origin as certain.

Etymology 2 (noun)

Native English word, from
Old English
Old English hopa “hope, expectation”
Oldest written form
Old English
Old English the

Etymology 3 (noun)

Native English word, from
Old English
Old English hōp (found only in placenames)

Etymology 4 (noun)

Came into English from
Icelandic
Icelandic hóp “a small bay or inlet”
Wiktionary: “hope” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Original meaning

What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.

Old English
“hope”
Old English hopian
Wiktionary: “hope” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913

A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.

hope n. [Cf. Icel. h a small bay or inlet.]

  1. A sloping plain between mountain ridges.
  2. A small bay; an inlet; a haven.

hope n. [AS., akin to D. hoop, hope, Sw. hopp, Dan. haab, MHG. hoffe. Hope in forlorn hope is different word. See Forlorn hope, under Forlorn.]

  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.
  2. One who, or that which, gives hope, furnishes ground of expectation, or promises desired good.
  3. That which is hoped for; an object of hope.

hope v. i. [AS. hopian; akin to D. hopen, Sw. hoppan, Dan. haabe, G. hoffen. See 2nd Hope.]

  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.
  2. To place confidence; to trust with confident expectation of good; -- usually followed by in.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), public domain, via GCIDE

5 Use it with confidence

Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.

verbMeaning: 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.

verbMeaning: 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.

verbMeaning: 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.

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

I hope in thy word.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms cxix:81:

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms xlii:11:

verbMeaning: To wish.

I hope you all the best.

nounMeaning: 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.

nounMeaning: a specific instance of feeling hopeful

it revived their hope of winning the pennant

nounMeaning: the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled

in spite of his troubles he never gave up hope

nounMeaning: someone (or something) on which expectations are centered

he was their best hope for a victory

verbMeaning: expect and wish

I hope she understands that she cannot expect a raise

Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License
Wiktionary: “hope” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Three steps to owning it

  1. Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
  2. Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
  3. Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?

6 The mastery game

Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.

Step 1 of 10

Say it, then spell it

hope

/həʊp/ · hope

Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.

Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________

hope

/həʊp/ · hope · verb, noun

Step 1 — Say it and write it

Say “hope” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.

Step 2 — Know every meaning

Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.

1. (verb) 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].
2. (verb) To intend to do something and look forward to the prospect of having done it [with to (+ infinitive)].
3. (verb) To expect optimistically that one might get something (either a change in circumstance or an object) [with for].
4. (verb) To place confidence; to trust with confident expectation of good [with in].
5. (verb) To wish.

Step 3 — Which meaning is it?

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

A. To intend to do something and look forward to the prospect of having done it [with to (+ infinitive)].
B. 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].
C. To place confidence; to trust with confident expectation of good [with in].

Circle the meaning used.

“I hope to succeed.”

A. To intend to do something and look forward to the prospect of having done it [with to (+ infinitive)].
B. 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].
C. The actual thing wished for.

Circle the meaning used.

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

A. 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].
B. To intend to do something and look forward to the prospect of having done it [with to (+ infinitive)].
C. To expect optimistically that one might get something (either a change in circumstance or an object) [with for].

Circle the meaning used.

Step 4 — History and origin

Which language did “hope” come into English from?   A. Anglo-Norman  B. French  C. Old English  D. Middle Dutch

Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):

Write three words built from “hope” and what each means:

Step 5 — Original meaning

The earliest traceable form is Old English hopian. What did it mean?

How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?

Step 6 — Use it yourself

Write a sentence using “hope” to mean: 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].
Write a sentence using “hope” to mean: To intend to do something and look forward to the prospect of having done it [with to (+ infinitive)].
Write a sentence using “hope” to mean: To expect optimistically that one might get something (either a change in circumstance or an object) [with for].

☐ I can explain its meanings   ☐ I know its history   ☐ I know its original language   ☐ I know its original meaning   ☐ I can use it confidently

Answer key — hope

Which meaning, sentence 1: B. 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].

Which meaning, sentence 2: A. To intend to do something and look forward to the prospect of having done it [with to (+ infinitive)].

Which meaning, sentence 3: C. To expect optimistically that one might get something (either a change in circumstance or an object) [with for].

Origin: C. Old English (Old English hopian)

Journey: English hope ← Middle English hopen ← Old English hopian ← Proto-West Germanic *hopōn

Some derivatives: behope, mishope, overhope, hopeably, hopecore, hopedict, hopediction, hopeful

Original meaning: Old English hopian — “hope”

Etymology: From Middle English hopen, from Old English hopian (“hope”), from Proto-West Germanic *hopōn; further etymology unclear.

Sources: Wiktionary “hope” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hope#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/hope