optimistic
adjective
op·ti·mis·tic
ˌäp-tə-ˈmi-stik 
: of, relating to, or characterized by optimism : feeling or showing hope for the future
an optimistic outlook
an optimistic economic forecast
a person with a hopeful, optimistic nature
I'm feeling optimistic about our chances.
The streets in question were magnificent commercial thoroughfares, … brimming with heavy streams of eager life—young, fresh, optimistic.—
Theodore Dreiser
Theodore Dreiser
optimistically
adverb
thinking optimistically about the future
an optimistically upbeat forecast
Optimistically, he anticipates that nuclear weapons … will never be used in war again …
—Russell F. Weigley
Russell F. Weigley
Examples of optimistic in a Sentence
the economic predictions for the coming year are actually quite optimistic
Recent Examples on the Web
Now, plenty of people will tell you that this is possibly a bit optimistic.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Equities have recovered a good portion of their losses since April 2 — the day President Donald Trump announced his new tariff policies — but investors may be too optimistic, since average tariffs in the U.S. are set to increase roughly tenfold versus 2024.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers are still optimistic free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers will join the team soon, president and owner Art Rooney said Friday, as the 2025 NFL Draft continued and the team declined to take a quarterback through the first three rounds.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
The Seahawks are optimistic Zabel can be part of the solution for an offensive line that struggled mightily in 2024.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optimistic
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Equities have recovered a good portion of their losses since April 2 — the day President Donald Trump announced his new tariff policies — but investors may be too optimistic, since average tariffs in the U.S. are set to increase roughly tenfold versus 2024.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers are still optimistic free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers will join the team soon, president and owner Art Rooney said Friday, as the 2025 NFL Draft continued and the team declined to take a quarterback through the first three rounds.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
The Seahawks are optimistic Zabel can be part of the solution for an offensive line that struggled mightily in 2024.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optimistic
Cite this Entry
“Optimistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optimistic. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share