hopeful
Anticipating positive outcomes
Hopeful describes someone who feels hope—expecting or wanting something good to happen: I'm hopeful we'll finish on time.
A hopeful sign or development is one that gives reason for optimism.
As a noun, a hopeful is someone aspiring to success: Olympic hopefuls, presidential hopefuls.
The adverb hopefully once meant "in a hopeful manner" but now usually means "I hope": Hopefully it won't rain.
Expecting positive results
- positiveAffirming or certain
- upbeatCheerfully optimistic
- sanguineCheerfully optimistic temperament
- buoyantAble to float
cheerful · rosy · bright · promising · heartening · encouraged · reassured · confident
Person seeking selection
- applicantOne who formally requests
- contenderOne competing seriously
- aspirantOne seeking advancement
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
nominee · entrant · auditioner · competitor · petitioner · tryout · finalist · shortlisted
Awaiting something foreseen
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- anticipatingExpecting something to happen
- eagerIntensely wanting something
- excitedEagerly anticipating something
impatient · on-edge · watchful · ready · prepared · poised · awaiting
Seeking to achieve
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- eagerIntensely wanting something
- wishfulDriven by desire
- desirousWanting something strongly
longing · dreaming · ambitious · driven · goal-oriented · striving · seeking · pursuing
Giving confidence or hope
- upliftingEmotionally encouraging
- inspirationalArousing drive or hope
- supportiveOffering help and reassurance
- hearteningInspiring confidence or cheer
reassuring · comforting · affirming · empowering · fortifying · invigorating · motivational · consoling
optimistic
Expecting positive results
buoyant · cheerful · rosy · bright · promising · heartening · encouraged · reassured · confident · expectant
candidate
Person seeking selection
prospect · nominee · entrant · auditioner · competitor · petitioner · tryout · finalist · shortlisted · up-and-comer
expectant
Awaiting something foreseen
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- anticipatingExpecting something to happen
- eagerIntensely wanting something
excited · impatient · on-edge · watchful · ready · prepared · poised · awaiting
aspiring
Seeking to achieve
desirous · longing · dreaming · ambitious · driven · goal-oriented · striving · seeking · pursuing · envisioning
encouraging
Giving confidence or hope
- upliftingEmotionally encouraging
- inspirationalArousing drive or hope
- supportiveOffering help and reassurance
heartening · reassuring · comforting · affirming · empowering · fortifying · invigorating · motivational · consoling · soothing
- good feelingshappy, joy, content, pleased, glad
- positive wordsyes, good, great, excellent, wonderful
- applicantscandidate, visa applicant, loan applicant, prospect, interviewee
- attitudespositive, negative, ambition, apathy, curiosity
- candidatescandidate, candidates, nominee, nominees, contender
- heartwarmingfeel-good, touching, heartfelt, uplifting, tender
hopefulhopeless
Beyond possibility of success
despairing · pessimistic · despondent · desperate · dejected
hopefulhopeless
Beyond possibility of success
unpromising · bleak · grim · inauspicious · unfavorable
- stay hopefulKeep expecting good outcomes