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.
• • •
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 .

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

optimism

op·ti·mism [ˈɒptɪmɪzəm] [ˈɑːptɪmɪzəm] noun uncountable ~ (about/for sth)
a feeling that good things will happen and that sth will be successful; the tendency to have this feeling
• optimism about/for the future
• We may now look forward with optimism.
• a mood of cautious optimism
• There are very real grounds for optimism.
• Both sides have expressed optimism about the chances of an early agreement.
Opp: pessimism
Word Origin:
[optimism] mid 18th cent.: from French optimisme, from Latin optimum ‘best thing’, neuter (used as a noun) of optimus ‘best’.
Example Bank:
• Despite the crisis a cautious optimism prevailed.
• Her optimism turned out to be misplaced.
• I find it hard to share his optimism.
• The 1970s began still full of optimism.
• The government expressed optimism about the success of the negotiations.
• The news caused a wave of optimism.
• There are now very real grounds for optimism.
• There was a note of optimism in his voice.
• We can look to the future with considerable optimism.
• When the 1970s began, we were still full of optimism.
• great optimism for the future
• renewed optimism among mortgage lenders
• He returned with renewed optimism about the future.

• Some people talked of a mood of cautious optimism.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

optimism / ˈɒp.tɪ.mɪ.z ə m / / ˈɑːp.tə- / noun [ U ]

C2 the quality of being full of hope and emphasizing the good parts of a situation, or a belief that something good will happen:

There was a note of optimism in his voice as he spoke about the company's future.

Judging from your exam results, I think you have cause/grounds/reason for cautious optimism about getting a university place.

→ Opposite pessimism

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

optimism

[ɒ̱ptɪmɪzəm]
N-UNCOUNT
Optimism is the feeling of being hopeful about the future or about the success of something in particular.
The Indian Prime Minister has expressed optimism about India's future relations with the USA.
...a mood of cautious optimism.
Syn:
confidence
Ant:
pessimism

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

optimism

op·ti·mism /ˈɑːptəˌmɪzəm/ noun [noncount] : a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future : a feeling or belief that what you hope for will happen
• Both of them expressed optimism about the future of the town.
• The early sales reports are cause/reason/grounds for optimism.
• Most of us reacted to the news with cautious/guarded optimism. [=a feeling that something good may happen but will not definitely happen]
• There is growing optimism that the problem can be corrected.
• He maintains a sense of optimism, despite all that has happened.
- opposite pessimism