Hope

Etymology 1

Old English - hopa.

Noun

plural hopes

hope (countable and uncountable; plural hopes)

• 1.(uncountable) The belief or expectation that something wished for can or will happen.

I still have some hope that I can get to work on time.

• 2.(countable) The actual thing wished for

• 3.(countable) A 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.(in Christianity) The virtuous desire for future good

But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Etymology 2

From Middle English hopen, from Old English hopian.

Verb

to hope (third-person singular simple present hopes, present participle hoping, simple past and past participle hoped)

• 1.to want something to happen.

I hope everyone likes this definition.

• 2.to be optimistic; be full of hope; have hopes

I am still hoping that all will turn out well

• 3.to expect and wish

This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs

Derived terms

hoped for

See Also

• Scriptures Containing Hope