hope

I. Hope, Anthony BrE AmE
(1863–1933) a British writer known especially for his adventure novel The Prisoner of Zenda
II. Hope, Bob BrE AmE
(1903–2003) a US actor and ↑comedian, born in the UK, who appeared in many humorous films such as Road to Singapore (1940) and The Paleface (1948). He was known for his special style of humour, which was based on ↑one-liners (=very short, clever jokes), and for entertaining soldiers during wartime.

hope

I. hope¹ S1 W1 /həʊp $ hoʊp/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[Word Family: noun: hope, hopefulness ≠ hopelessness, hopeful; verb: hope; adverb: hopefully ≠ hopelessly; adjective: hopeful ≠ hopeless]
[Language: Old English; Origin: hopian]
1. to want something to happen or be true and to believe that it is possible or likely
hope (that)
We hope that more women will decide to join the course.
I do hope everything goes well.
It was hoped that the job would be filled by a local person.
Let’s just hope someone finds her bag.
I hope to God I haven’t left the car window open.
hope to do something
Joan’s hoping to study law at Harvard.
hope for
We were hoping for good weather.
Liam decided to ignore the warning and just hope for the best (=hope that a situation will end well when there is a risk of things going wrong).
I rang my parents, hoping against hope (=hoping for something that is very unlikely to happen or be true) that they hadn’t left yet.
► Do not say that you ‘hope something would happen’. Say that you hope something will happen: I hope the weather will be nice (NOT I hope the weather would be nice).
2. I hope so spoken used to say that you hope something that has been mentioned happens or is true:
‘Do we get paid this week?’ ‘I certainly hope so!’
3. I hope not spoken used to say that you hope something that has been mentioned does not happen or is not true:
I don’t think I’m busy that day, or at least I hope not.
4. I’m hoping spoken used to say that you hope something will happen, especially because you are depending on it
I’m hoping (that)
I’m hoping the car will be fixed by Friday.
I’m hoping to do something
We were hoping to see you today.
5. I hope (that) spoken used when you want to be polite and to make sure that you are not interrupting or offending someone:
I hope I’m not interrupting you.
I hope you don’t mind me asking, but why are you moving?
6. I should hope so (too) (also I should hope not British English) spoken used to say that you feel very strongly that something should or should not happen:
‘They’ll get their money back.’ ‘I should hope so too, after being treated like that.’
II. hope² S2 W2 BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: hope, hopefulness ≠ hopelessness, hopeful; verb: hope; adverb: hopefully ≠ hopelessly; adjective: hopeful ≠ hopeless]
1. FEELING [uncountable and countable] a feeling of wanting something to happen or be true and believing that it is possible or likely:
When I first arrived in New York, I was full of hope for the future.
the hope that
The President has expressed the hope that relations will improve.
hopes for something
hopes for an end to the fighting
hopes of doing something
Rita has hopes of studying to be a nurse.
in the hope that
Should they hang on in the hope that the shares will go up in value?
in the hope of doing something (=because you hope that you will do something)
Shoppers flocked to the sales in the hope of finding a bargain.
2. SOMETHING YOU HOPE FOR [countable] something that you hope will happen:
She told him all her secret hopes and fears.
sb’s hope is that
My hope is that by next summer I’ll have saved enough money to go travelling.
3. CHANCE [uncountable and countable] a chance of succeeding or of something good happening
hope of
It was the rush hour, and there was no hope of getting a seat.
It was a desperate plan, with little hope of success.
hope (that)
There’s still a faint hope (=a very small chance) that the two sides will reach an agreement.
not a hope! spoken (=used to say that there is no chance of something happening)
not a hope in hell (of doing something) spoken (=not even the smallest chance of success)
They don’t have a hope in hell of winning.
some hope! (also what a hope! )British English spoken (=used humorously to say that there is no chance that something will happen)
‘Your dad might lend you the car.’ ‘Some hope!’
4. be sb’s last/only/best hope to be someone’s last, only etc chance of getting the result they want:
Please help me. You’re my last hope.
be sb’s last/only/best hope of
Joshua’s only hope of survival was a heart transplant.
5. be beyond hope if a situation is beyond hope, it is so bad that there is no chance of any improvement
be beyond hope of
Some of the houses were beyond hope of repair.
6. have high/great hopes for somebody/something to be confident that someone or something will be succesful:
The weather looked good, so we had high hopes for today.
7. I/we live in hope spoken used when saying that you keep hoping that something will happen - often used humorously when saying that it seems unlikely:
"Do you think your son will ever get a job?" "We live in hope!"
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ verbs
▪ have hope The situation looked bad, but we still had hope that things would get better soon.
▪ give/offer hope The research has given hope to thousands of sufferers of the disease.
▪ lose/give up/abandon hope (=stop hoping) After so long without any word from David, Margaret was starting to lose hope.
▪ raise sb’s hopes (also get/build somebody's hopes up) (=make someone feel that what they want is likely to happen) I don't want to raise your hopes too much. | Don’t build your hopes up, Julie. You’ll only get hurt.
▪ hold out hope (=say that you think something is likely) Negotiators did not hold out much hope of a peaceful solution.
▪ pin your hopes on something (=hope for one thing that everything else depends on) After a difficult year, the company is pinning its hopes on its new range of products.
▪ cling to the hope that (=keep hoping that something will happen, even though it seems unlikely) They clung to the hope that one day a cure would be found.
▪ dash/shatter sb’s hopes (=make what someone wants seem impossible) The ending of the talks has dashed any hopes of peace.
▪ hopes are fading (=people have much less hope of doing something) Hopes are fading that rescuers will find any more survivors.
▪ hope lies in/with something (=something gives people hope) Our real hope lies with a vaccine.
■ phrases
▪ be full of hope His voice sounded full of hope.
▪ a glimmer/ray of hope (=a little hope, or something that gives you a little hope) The new treatment gives patients a glimmer of hope.
▪ sb’s hopes and dreams (=all the things someone hopes for) We talked about all our hopes and dreams for the future.
▪ sb’s hopes and fears (=all the things someone hopes for and is afraid of) The crew members have different hopes and fears about the trip.
▪ it is our fervent hope that formal (=used when saying that you hope very much that something will or will not happen) It is our fervent hope that change is coming.
▪ hope springs eternal (=used to say that people will always hope for something) It is unlikely these diets will work, but hope springs eternal.
▪ a symbol/beacon of hope (=something that makes people have hope) Mandela was a symbol of hope for his whole country.
■ adjectives
▪ false hope We don't want to give people false hopes.
▪ a vain/forlorn hope (=hope for something that is impossible) He traveled south in the vain hope of finding work.
▪ somebody's only/one hope My only hope is that someone may have handed in the keys to the police.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hope

hope [hope hopes hoped hoping] verb, noun [həʊp] [hoʊp]

verb intransitive, transitive
to want sth to happen and think that it is possible
• ~ (for sth) We are hoping for good weather on Sunday.
• All we can do now is wait and hope.
• ‘Do you think it will rain?’ ‘ I hope not.’
• ‘Will you be back before dark?’ ‘ I hope so, yes.’
• The exam went better than I'd dared hope.
• I'll see you next week, I hope.
• ~ (that)… I hope (that) you're okay.
• I can only hope (that) there has been some mistake.
• Detectives are hoping (that) witnesses will come forward.
• Let's hope we can find a parking space.
• it is hoped (that)… It is hoped that over £10 000 will be raised.
• ~ to do sth She is hoping to win the gold medal.
• We hope to arrive around two.
• What had he hoped to achieve? Hope can be used in the passive in the form it is hoped that…. For must always be used with hope in other passive sentences
• The improvement that had been hoped for never came.
• The hoped-for improvement never came.
more at cross my heart (and hope to die) at cross
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
late Old English hopa (noun), hopian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoop (noun), hopen (verb), and German hoffen (verb).
Thesaurus:
hope verb I, T
• We're hoping for good weather on Sunday.
wish • • aspire • • wait • • set your heart on sth • |especially journalism set your sights on sth •
Opp: despair of sth
hope/wish/wait for sth
hope/wish that…
hope/aspire/wait to do sth
Example Bank:
• He secretly hoped that she wouldn't be home.
• I hardly dared to hope the plan would succeed.
• I only hope you're right.
• I sincerely hope that you will be successful.
• They hoped desperately that their missing son would come home.
• We are hoping for good weather.
• ‘Do you think it will rain?’ ‘I hope not.’
• ‘Will you be back before dark?’ ‘I hope so, yes.’
• I can only hope there has been some mistake.
• Let's hope we can find a parking space.
• The exam went better than I'd dared hope.
• We're hoping for good weather on Sunday.

Idioms: I should hope so ▪ beyond hope ▪ hold out little hope ▪ hope against hope ▪ hope for the best ▪ hope springs eternal ▪ in the hope of something ▪ in the hope that … ▪ not have a hope ▪ not hold out any/much hope ▪ so I should hope ▪ some hope!

noun
1. uncountable, countable a belief that sth you want will happen
• ~ (of sth) There is now hope of a cure.
• ~ (for sb/sth) Hopes for the missing men are fading.
• ~ (that…) There is little hope that they will be found alive.
• ~ (of doing sth) They have given up hope of finding any more survivors.
• She has high hopes of winning (= is very confident about it).
• The future is not without hope.
• Don't raise your hopes too high, or you may be disappointed.
• I'll do what I can, but don't get your hopes up.
• There is still a glimmer of hope.

• The situation is not good but we live in hope that it will improve.

2. countable ~ (of/for sth) | ~ (for sb) | ~ (that…) | ~ (of doing sth) something that you wish for
• She told me all her hopes, dreams and fears.

• They have high hopes for their children.

3. countable, usually singular ~ (of sth) | ~ (for sb) a person, a thing or a situation that will help you get what you want
• He turned to her in despair and said, ‘You're my last hope.’
• The operation was Kelly's only hope of survival.
more at dash sb's hopes at dash _v., pin (all) your hopes on sb/sth at pin
Word Origin:
late Old English hopa (noun), hopian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoop (noun), hopen (verb), and German hoffen (verb).
Thesaurus:
hope noun
1. U, C
• There is no hope of finding any more survivors.
optimism • • expectancy • • wishful thinking •
Opp: despair, Opp: hopelessness
hope/optimism for sth
hope/optimism that…
express/share your hope/optimism
2. C
• They have high hopes for their children.
dream • • ambition • • aspiration • • expectation • • fantasy •
Opp: fear
hopes/aspirations/expectations for sth
high hopes/ambitions/aspirations/expectations
have hopes/a dream/an ambition/aspirations/expectations/a fantasy
fulfil your hopes/dreams/ambitions/aspirations/expectations/fantasies
Example Bank:
• He had one last hope to cling to.
• He pinned all his hopes on getting that job.
• He represents our best hope for a swimming medal.
• He secretly cherished hopes that George would marry his daughter.
• He turned to her in despair and said, ‘You're my last hope.’
• He wasn't trying to give her false hope.
• Her dark eyes lit with sudden hope.
• Her hopes of going to college have now been dashed.
• Her only hope lay in escape.
• His early hopes of freedom were now gone.
• Hope faded after wrecked remains of the ship were washed onto the shore.
• Hope flared up inside her.
• Hope remains that survivors will be found.
• Hopes are high that a resolution to the conflict can be found.
• Hopes of a peaceful end to the strike are now growing.
• I am writing this letter in hopes that it will be forwarded to the editor.
• I am writing to you in the hope that you can help me obtain some information.
• I didn't give up hope of being released.
• I don't hold out much hope of finding a buyer.
• I have no hope of winning.
• I haven't yet found a flat, but I live in hope.
• I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.
• I'll see what I can do, but don't get your hopes up too much.
• It is important to keep alive the hope that a peace settlement might be found.
• It is my fervent hope that you will be able to take this project forward.
• It is my sincere hope that she will find happiness at last.
• It seemed a forlorn hope that we would find a taxi.
• Lord Mountbatten secretly cherished hopes that Charles would marry his granddaughter.
• Maybe we can find some hope for humanity after all.
• Our one hope was that the hurricane would change direction.
• Peace is a distant hope in this war-torn region.
• Political leaders do now entertain the hope that a settlement can be found.
• Privatization seems to offer the best hope for the industry.
• She felt weak and without hope.
• She is Britain's brightest hope for a medal.
• She saw little hope of meeting the targets.
• She told me all her hopes and dreams.
• The Mexican president expressed hope for cooperation on trade.
• The latest job figures have boosted hopes for the economy.
• The use of fish oil to treat cancer has brought fresh hope to millions of sufferers.
• Their main hopes rest on their new striker.
• There was still a faint hope that they would accept the offer.
• These figures kill off any lingering hopes of an early economic recovery.
• This announcement has raised hopes that the crisis may be coming to an end.
• We have every hope of completing the project this year.
• We have high hopes for the project.
• We now have good grounds for hope.
• We're trying to keep our hopes up.
• You don't have a hope in hell of finding a job.
• a bitter tale of disappointed hopes
• a feeling of considerable hope
• damaged beyond hope of repair
• keeping alive the hope that a peace settlement might be found
• the team's championship hopes
• the treatment gave him renewed hope
• without any real hope of success
• young people who are full of hope for the future
• Don't raise your hopes too high, or you may be disappointed.
• I'll do what I can, but don't get your hopes up.

• She has high hopes of winning.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hope

hope /həʊp/ US /hoʊp/
noun [C or U]
something good that you want to happen in the future, or a confident feeling about what will happen in the future:
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
Is there any hope of getting financial support for the project?
[+ that] Is there any hope that they will be home in time?
Young people are growing up in our cities without any hope of finding a job.
His reply dashed (= destroyed) our hopes.
They have pinned (all) their hopes on (= They are depending for success on) their new player.
She's very ill, but there's still hope/we live in hope (= we think she might be cured).
The situation is now beyond/past hope (= unlikely to produce the desired result).
We never gave up hope (= stopped hoping) that she would be found alive.
The letter offered us a glimmer/ray of (= a little) hope.
I didn't phone till four o'clock in the hope that you'd be finished.
I don't hold out much hope of getting (= I don't expect to be able to get) a ticket.

hope /həʊp/ US /hoʊp/
verb [I or T]
to want something to happen or to be true, and usually have a good reason to think that it might:
I'm hoping for an interview next week.
[+ (that)] She's hoping (that) she won't be away too long.
I hope (that) she'll win.
We have to hope and pray (that) the operation will go well.
[+ to infinitive] They hope to visit us next year.
It's good news, I hope.
"Will you be at the meeting tomorrow?" "I hope not/so".
Compare wish (HOPE).

hopeful /ˈhəʊp.f^əl/ US /ˈhoʊp-/
adjective
1 having hope:
He was hopeful about the outcome of the meeting.
They were hopeful of a successful agreement.
I'm hopeful (that) we can reach a compromise.

2 giving hope:
The green shoots were hopeful signs of spring.

hopeful /ˈhəʊp.f^əl/ US /ˈhoʊp-/
noun [C usually plural]
a person who is trying to get a part in a film, play for a famous football team, etc:
Over a thousand young hopefuls went to the Theatre Royal today to audition for a part in the new musical.

hopefulness /ˈhəʊp.f^əl.nəs/ US /ˈhoʊp-/
noun [U]

hopefully /ˈhəʊp.f^əl.i/ US /ˈhoʊp-/
adverb
1 used, often at the start of a sentence, to express what you would like to happen:
Hopefully it won't rain.
Hopefully we'll be in Norwich by early evening.

2 in a hopeful way:
"Do you have a cigarette?" he asked hopefully.

hopeless /
adjective
1 without hope:
a hopeless situation
They searched for survivors but it was hopeless.
She was depressed and felt totally hopeless about the future.

2 completely without skill at a particular activity:
I'm hopeless at sports.
He's a hopeless cook.

hopelessly
adverb
extremely, or in a way that makes you lose hope:
They met at university and fell hopelessly in love.
We were hopelessly lost.

hopelessness
noun [U]
I find the hopelessness of the situation very depressing.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

hope

[ho͟ʊp]
♦
hopes, hoping, hoped
1) VERB If you hope that something is true, or you hope for something, you want it to be true or to happen, and you usually believe that it is possible or likely.
  She had decided she must go on as usual, follow her normal routine, and hope and pray...
  [V for n] He hesitates before leaving, almost as though he had been hoping for conversation...
  [V to-inf] I hope to get a job within the next two weeks...
  [V that] The researchers hope that such a vaccine could be available in about ten years' time...
  [V so/not] `We'll speak again.' - `I hope so.'...
  [V so/not] `Will it happen again?' - `I hope not, but you never know.'
2) VERB: with brd-neg If you say that you cannot hope for something, or if you talk about the only thing that you can hope to get, you mean that you are in a bad situation, and there is very little chance of improving it.
  [V for n] Things aren't ideal, but that's the best you can hope for...
  [V for n] I always knew it was too much to hope for.
  [V to-inf] ...these mountains, which no one can hope to penetrate.
N-VAR
Hope is also a noun. The only hope for underdeveloped countries is to become, as far as possible, self-reliant... The car was smashed beyond any hope of repair.
3) N-UNCOUNT Hope is a feeling of desire and expectation that things will go well in the future.
  Now that he has become President, many people once again have hope for genuine changes in the system...
  But Kevin hasn't given up hope of being fit...
  Consumer groups still hold out hope that the president will change his mind...
  Thousands of childless couples are to be given new hope by the government.
4) N-COUNT: with supp, oft N of n/-ing, N that If someone wants something to happen, and considers it likely or possible, you can refer to their hopes of that thing, or to their hope that it will happen.
  They have hopes of increasing trade between the two regions...
  The delay in the programme has dashed Japan's hopes of commercial success in space...
  My hope is that, in the future, I will go over there and marry her.
5) N-COUNT: with supp If you think that the help or success of a particular person or thing will cause you to be successful or to get what you want, you can refer to them as your hope.
  ...England's last hope in the English Open Table Tennis Championships...
  Roemer represented the best hope for a businesslike climate in Louisiana.
6) PHRASE: V inflects If you are in a difficult situation and do something and hope for the best, you hope that everything will happen in the way you want, although you know that it may not.
  I took the risk and hoped for the best...
  Some companies are cutting costs and hoping for the best.
7) PHRASE: V inflects If you tell someone not to get their hopes up, or not to build their hopes up, you are warning them that they should not become too confident of progress or success.
  There is no reason for people to get their hopes up over this mission...
  I don't want you to build your hopes up, but I'll have a word with Fred tomorrow.
8) PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR, oft PHR of -ing (emphasis) If you say that someone has not got a hope in hell of doing something, you are emphasizing that they will not be able to do it. [INFORMAL]
  Everybody knows they haven't got a hope in hell of forming a government anyway.
9) PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR, usu PHR that, PHR of n/-ing, PHR for n If you have high hopes or great hopes that something will happen, you are confident that it will happen.
  I had high hopes that Derek Randall might play an important part...
  Britain's three-day event team has high hopes of winning the Olympic gold medal...
  He had no great hopes for the success of his undertaking.
10) PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR that If you hope against hope that something will happen, you hope that it will happen, although it seems impossible.
  She glanced about the hall, hoping against hope that Richard would be waiting for her.
11) PHRASE: PHR with cl (politeness) You use `I hope' in expressions such as `I hope you don't mind' and `I hope I'm not disturbing you', when you are being polite and want to make sure that you have not offended someone or disturbed them.
  I hope you don't mind me coming to see you...
  I hope I haven't said anything to upset you.
12) PHRASE: PHR with cl, PHR not You say `I hope' when you want to warn someone not to do something foolish or dangerous.
  You're not trying to see him, I hope?...
  I hope you won't be too harsh with the girl...
  Are we starting that again? I most sincerely hope not.
13) PHRASE: PHR with cl (politeness) You add `I hope' to what you are saying to make it sound more polite and less rude or less definite.
  I'm the best man for the job, I hope...
  Fraulein Wendel is well, I hope?
14) PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR of -ing, PHR that If you do one thing in the hope of another thing happening, you do it because you think it might cause or help the other thing to happen, which is what you want.
  He was studying in the hope of being admitted to an engineering college...
  We will be analysing all the things she has told us in the hope that we can locate the person responsible.
15) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR that, PHR of -ing If you live in hope that something will happen, you continue to hope that it will happen, although it seems unlikely, and you realize that you are being foolish.
  I just live in hope that one day she'll talk to me...
  My mother bought lots of tickets and lived in hope of winning the prize.
16) CONVENTION (feelings) If you say `Some hope', or `Not a hope', you think there is no possibility that something will happen, although you may want it to happen. [INFORMAL]
  The industry reckons it will see orders swell by 10% this financial year. Some hope.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hope

²hope noun, pl hopes
1 : the feeling of wanting something to happen and thinking that it could happen : a feeling that something good will happen or be true

[noncount]

• When they started their life together, they were young and full of hope.
• Rescuers have not yet abandoned/lost hope that more survivors will be found.
• The drug has brought/given hope to thousands of sufferers.

[count]

• We allowed ourselves to entertain hopes that the crisis would end soon.
• The goal raised/lifted the hopes of the team.
• The hope is that there will be a settlement soon.
• The lawyers do not want to raise false hopes of an early settlement.
• Our hopes are fading/dwindling.
• We had high hopes of winning the game. [=we felt we had a very good chance of winning the game]
• You shouldn't get your hopes up. [=feel so hopeful]
• She went back to the restaurant with hopes of finding her purse there. = She went back to the restaurant with the hope of finding her purse there. [=because she thought and hoped that she might find her purse there]
• He told them the truth with the hope that they would understand.
2 [noncount] : the chance that something good will happen
• She believes there's hope of/for a cure. [=that a cure is possible]
• He had little/no hope of attending college.
• The latest reports hold out hope for a possible end to this crisis.
• They have a glimmer/ray of hope [=a small chance] of winning.
• His condition is beyond hope. [=his condition is hopeless]
3 [singular] : someone or something that may be able to provide help : someone or something that gives you a reason for hoping
• He's our last/best hope.
• At this point their only hope is that someone will offer to buy the company.
• What hope is there for someone like me?
4 [count] : something that is hoped for
• All my hopes have been fulfilled at last.
• Our fondest hope is that our children will be happy and healthy.
• We all have hopes and dreams for the future.
• We have great hopes for the coming year.
fix your hopes on/upon
- see ¹fix
in (the) hope of/that or in hopes of/that : with the hope that something will happen or could happen
• He returned to the crime scene in (the) hope of finding further evidence.
• He waited in hopes that she would show up.
live in hope chiefly Brit : to hope for something when you know that it will probably not happen or be true
• We live in hope that there will be some survivors of the crash.
pin (all) your hopes on
- see pin on at ²pin