hopeful
UK: ˈhəʊpfʊl | US: ˈhoʊpfəl
adj. feeling or inspiring optimism about a future event
adj. giving hope; promising
n. a person who aspires to success or improvement
The word "hopeful" combines the Old English root "hope" (derived from Proto-Germanic *hopō, meaning "expectation") with the suffix "-ful" (from Old English -full, meaning "full of"). This construction reflects a straightforward evolution: "full of hope." The suffix "-ful" is commonly used in English to transform nouns into adjectives denoting abundance (e.g., "joyful," "grateful"). The word has retained its core meaning of optimism since the 14th century.
She gave a hopeful smile before the interview.
The team remains hopeful about winning the championship.
His speech was hopeful and inspiring.
As a young hopeful, she dreamed of becoming a scientist.
The weather forecast looks hopeful for our picnic tomorrow.