Definition of “hope” - English Dictionary

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“hope” in English

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hopeverb [ I or T ]

uk ​ /həʊp/ us ​ /hoʊp/

A2 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 verb

More examples

Grammar

Expect, hope or wait? …
ExpectWe use expect to say that we believe that something will happen. We use expect in the following main patterns: …
HopeWe use hope when we do not know whether something will happen or not but we want it to happen. We use hope in the following patterns: …
WaitWe use wait when we refer to letting time pass because we are expecting that something is going to happen. We use wait in the following main patterns: …
Expect, hope or wait: typical errors …
HopeHope is a verb and a noun. …
Hope as a verbAfter hope, we often use present verb forms even when there is reference to the future: …
Hope as a nounWe can use hope as a countable noun: …

Idiom(s)

hope against hope
hope for the best

hopenoun [ C or U ]

uk ​ /həʊp/ us ​ /hoʊp/

B1 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 until 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.

More examples

Grammar

HopeHope is a verb and a noun. …
Hope as a verbAfter hope, we often use present verb forms even when there is reference to the future: …
Hope as a nounWe can use hope as a countable noun: …

Idiom(s)

not have a hope in hell

(Definition of “hope” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“hope” in American English

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hopenoun [ C/U ]

us ​ /hoʊp/

› the feeling that something desired can be had or will happen:

[ U ] We never entirely gave up hope.
[ U ] This research offers hope of developing better ways to treat cancer.
[ C ] He had hopes of being chosen for the leading part in the play.

hopeverb

us ​ /hoʊp/

› to express the feeling or wish that something desired will happen:

[ I ] I’m hoping the company gives us a bonus this year.
[ + to infinitive ] We hope to see you soon.
[ + (that) clause ] I hope (that) his plane won’t be delayed.

(Definition of “hope” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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