hope

1 verb (I, T)

1 to want something to happen or be true, and to believe it is possible: hope (that): I hope you have a lovely birthday. | I hope I'm not disturbing you. | Let's just hope we can find somewhere to park. | hope to do sth: Joan's hoping to study Law at Harvard.

(+ for): We were hoping for good weather | hope for the best (=hope that a situation will end well when there is a risk of things going wrong): All we can do is hope for the best and wait. | hope against hope (=continue to hope for something even when it is unlikely to happen): Daniel waited all day, hoping against hope that Annie would change her mind.

2 I hope (that) used to say that you hope something will happen: I hope you're coming to the party. | I do hope (that) BrE (=a polite way of sying that you hope something will happen): It was great to see you and I do hope that we'll meet up again soon.

3 I hope so used to say that you hope something that has been mentioned happens or is true: “Do we get paid this week?” “I certainly hope so!”

4 I hope not used to say that you hope something that has been mentioned does not happen or is not true: I don't think I'm busy that day, at least I hope not anyway.

5 I am hoping used to say that you hope something will happen, especially because you are depending on it: I am hoping (that): I'm hoping he's going to do my car for me because I can't afford to take it to the garage. | I'm hoping to do sth: Oh what a shame! We were hoping to see you today.

6 let's hope (that) used to tell someone that you hope something will happen or will not happen: Let's just hope someone finds her bag and hands it in.

7 I should hope so (too) BrE used to say that you feel very strongly that something should happen: “Well, they should get their money back.” “I should hope so too, after being treated like that.”

8 I hope to God (that) used to say that you hope very much that something will happen or will not happen, because otherwise there will be serious problems: I hope to God I haven't left the car window open.

2 noun (U)

1 FEELING a feeling of wanting something to happen, and a belief that it is likely to happen

(+ for): The people are full of hope for the future. | give/offer hope to sb (=make it possible for people to have hope): This new treatment may offer hope to thousands of cancer patients. | lose hope/give up hope (=stop hoping): Michael's parents had almost given up hope of ever seeing him again. | in the hope that (=because you hope that something will happen): He showed me a picture of the missing girl in the hope that I might recognize her. | glimmer/ray of hope (=something that gives you a little hope): The union's offer to negotiate offered a ray of hope. | live in hope (=keep hoping for something): We haven't had any success yet, but we live in hope. | not hold out any hope (=not give someone any reason to hope for something): I'm afraid the doctors didn't hold out much hope.

2 STH YOU HOPE FOR (C) something that you hope will happen: She told me all her secret hopes and fears.

(+ of): hopes of fame and fortune | have hopes of doing sth (=hope to do it): At one time he had hopes of playing at Wimbledon | my one hope is...: My one hope was that I would see my family again. | have high hopes for (=hope that someone or something will be successful): the high hopes parents have for their children | hopes are fading (=people are beginning to lose hope): The search for survivors continues, but hopes are fading fast. | pin your hopes on (=hope that something will happen because all your plans depend on it): I can't pin my hopes on getting this job. —see wish 1

3 raise/dash sb's hopes to make someone's hopes seem more likely, or make them seem impossible: Sally's hopes of meeting someone nice were dashed again.

4 get/build sb's hopes up to make someone's hopes seem more likely, or to feel that your hopes are more likely to happen: I don't want to get your hopes up, but I know you're a favorite for the part.

5 CHANCE (C, U) a chance of succeeding or of something good happening

(+ of): there was no hope of escape | hope that: There is some hope that we'll find a solution to our problems. | not a hope! spoken (=used to mean that there is no chance of something happening): “Do you think they'll refund our money?” “Not a hope!” | not a hope in hell spoken (=not even the smallest chance of success): They don't have a hope in hell of winning this game. | some hope/what a hope! BrE spoken humorous (=used to say that there is no chance that something will happen): `Your dad might lend you the car.” “Some hope!”

6 there's hope for you yet! spoken used to say that someone could still be successful, often in a joking way

7 be sb's last/only hope to be someone's last or only chance of getting the result they want: For many people who couldn't find work, the colonies were the last hope.

8 be beyond hope if a situation is beyond hope it is so bad that there is no chance of any improvement

(+ of): Some of these patients are beyond hope of recovery.