optimism

optimism

op‧ti‧mis‧m /ˈɒptəmɪzəm, ˈɒptɪmɪzəm $ ˈɑːp-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: optimisme, from Latin optimum; ⇨ ↑optimum]
a tendency to believe that good things will always happen OPP pessimism
grounds/cause/reason for optimism
Recent results must give some cause for optimism.
There are grounds for cautious optimism.
mood/sense of optimism
a new sense of optimism in the country
optimism (that)
There was optimism that an agreement could be reached.
optimism about
I don’t share his optimism about our chances of success.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ great optimism The team was in a mood of great optimism.
▪ considerable optimism These figures indicate that we can go into next year with considerable optimism.
▪ cautious/guarded optimism (=the belief that a future situation will be good or better than before, although you cannot be not sure) The U.N. sees cause for cautious optimism in what has been achieved so far. | He expressed guarded optimism about the company's future.
▪ false optimism (=optimism based on wrong ideas or information) In his speech he warned against false optimism about the immediate future.
▪ initial/early optimism (=optimism that you feel at the start of a process, especially when it does not continue) There was initial optimism about a breakthrough in relations between the two countries.
▪ new/renewed optimism (=optimism that you start to feel again, after you stopped feeling it) The new leadership has brought renewed optimism.
■ verbs
▪ express optimism Diplomats expressed optimism about the progress of the talks.
▪ share somebody's optimism (=feel the optimism that someone else feels) After so many problems, I found it hard to share his optimism.
▪ optimism grows His optimism grew as the time came nearer for his release.
▪ optimism prevails/reigns (=optimism is the strongest feeling) Despite the crisis, optimism prevailed.
■ phrases
▪ be grounds/cause/reason for optimism The lower crime figures are certainly grounds for optimism.
▪ a mood/sense of optimism A mood of optimism prevails in the White House.
▪ a wave/surge of optimism (=a sudden strong feeling of optimism) The team are riding a wave of optimism after their recent victory.
▪ be (little/no) room for optimism (=have a possibility that things might get better) There is little room for optimism in the current financial situation.
▪ be full of optimism (=be feeling that good things will happen) The 1970s began full of optimism and confidence about world development .