hope

hope — verb

1. to believe that something you want could truly happen — for instance, a student

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveA2
Definition

to believe that something you want could truly happen — for instance, a student wanting to pass an exam, a fan wanting their team to win, or a parent wanting a child's illness to end.

Example

Sahil hopes to study medicine at National University next year.

hope + to-infinitive for future goals

Talia hopes that the rain will stop before the wedding ceremony begins.

hope + that-clause

Common collocations
  • hope sincerely
  • hope desperately
  • hope against hope
  • hope and pray
  • begin to hope
  • dare to hope
Synonyms
  • wish

    stronger, often used for things that are unlikely or impossible — 'I wish I could fly'

  • expect

    implies stronger belief that something will happen — 'I expect the package to arrive tomorrow'

  • look forward to

    focuses on pleasant anticipation of a definite future event — 'I look forward to meeting you'

Antonyms
  • dread

    to fear something that might happen — 'I dread going to the dentist'

  • despair

    to lose all hope — 'The team despaired after losing ten games in a row'

Grammar Patterns

hope + to + infinitive

hope + (that) + clause

hope + for + noun

Usage Note

Frequently followed by a that-clause (often with 'that' omitted in everyday speech) or a to-infinitive. The for-phrase pattern is used when the desired thing is a noun rather than an action — e.g. 'hope for peace', 'hope for a reply'. In the past perfect ('had hoped'), the sense is usually that the hoped-for thing did not happen.

Common Mistakes

I hope you to come to the party.
I hope you can come to the party.
'hope' cannot be followed by 'someone + to-infinitive'; use a that-clause instead.
I hope they will win, but I know they probably will not.
I wish they would win, but I know they probably will not.
'hope' implies possibility; use 'wish' for situations that are unlikely or impossible.
Idioms

hope against hope

idiom

to continue hoping that something will happen even when the situation makes it seem very unlikely or impossible

The family hoped against hope that their cat would be found alive after the storm.

hope for the best

idiom

to hope that a situation will end well, especially when there are difficulties or problems at the moment

We have repaired the engine as best we can, so now we just have to hope for the best.

I should hope so / I should hope not

idiom

used to say that you feel very strongly that something should or should not happen, especially when someone has just asked about it

"Is the manager going to apologise for his mistake?" "I should hope so!"

"Do you think the children will be supervised?" "I should hope not — they are only six years old."

cross my heart (and hope to die)

idiom

used by children or in informal speech to promise that what you are saying is true

I did not break the window, cross my heart and hope to die.

hope against hope (that…)

idiom

To keep hoping for something even when it seems impossible.

Mia hoped against hope that her lost cat would return home.

Even after the storm, the fishermen hoped against hope for survivors.

I should hope so/not | so I should hope

idiom

Used to express strong feeling that something should or should not happen.

“The train will be on time.” “I should hope so, after all the delays.”

“He didn't cheat on the test.” “I should hope not, given his honesty.”

hope — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Hope, wish, expect, and look forward to all involve wanting something, but they differ in how likely the speaker thinks it is. Hope (very common, A2) is used when the outcome is possible but not certain — you believe there is a real chance. Wish (A2) is for things that are unlikely, impossible, or contrary to fact: 'I wish I were taller' (impossible) or 'I wish it would stop raining' (the speaker is not sure it will). Expect (A2–B1) implies stronger belief based on evidence or routine: 'I expect the train to be late' (it usually is). Look forward to (B1) is about pleasant anticipation of a definite future event: 'I look forward to your visit next week' (the visit is confirmed). In short: hope = possible, wish = unlikely/impossible, expect = probable, look forward to = certain and enjoyable.

hope ↗wish ↗expect ↗look forward to ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in the hope of
  • in the hope that
  • beyond all hope
  • with high hopes
  • without hope
  • against all hope
  • pin one's hopes on
  • place one's hopes in
  • a glimmer of hope
  • a ray of hope

Prepositions

Etymology

West GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Hope comes from Old English 'hopian', meaning 'to wish for something while believing it could happen'. The word is part of a family of West Germanic languages — Old Frisian 'hopia', Middle Dutch 'hopen', and Old High German 'hoffen' all carry a similar meaning. The noun form 'hopa' appeared in late Old English. The origin before Germanic is unknown, but the word has been a core part of English for well over a thousand years.