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

optimistically

ˌäp-tə-ˈmi-sti-k(ə-)lē 

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

Synonyms

• promising
• bright
• hopeful

Examples of optimistic in a Sentence

the economic predictions for the coming year are actually quite optimistic

Recent Examples on the Web

Following The Crowd When investors are optimistic, stock prices rise. —Catherine Brock, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

Helping to build a company from the ground up requires a careful balance of being optimistic—with the right people. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 June 2025

The analyst is optimistic the regulatory outlook can turn that around though, specifically if the industry gets market structure legislation on top of stablecoin legislation. —Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 27 June 2025

McEnroe this week sounded a bit more optimistic during a pre-Wimbledon tune-up with reporters staged by ESPN. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

optimist + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for optimistic

• agonistic
• altruistic
• animistic
• aphoristic
• atheistic
• cabalistic
• calvinistic
• chauvinistic
• dualistic
• egoistic
• egotistic
• eucharistic

Kids Definition

optimistic

adjective

op·​ti·​mis·​tic

ˌäp-tə-ˈmis-tik

: showing optimism : expecting everything to come out all right : hopeful

optimistically

-ti-k(ə-)lē

adverb