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

• auspicious
• bright
• encouraging
• fair
• golden
• heartening
• hopeful
• likely
• promising
• propitious
• rose-colored
• roseate
• rosy
• upbeat

Examples of optimistic in a Sentence

the economic predictions for the coming year are actually quite optimistic

Recent Examples on the Web

Other Fed officials who spoke this week were more optimistic about lowering rates. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025

Hurts has missed two games, while Love was injured Sunday and has sounded optimistic about his availability. —Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025

But as the winds driving the inferno have slackened, experts are cautiously optimistic that the blazes can soon be beaten back. —Alec Luhn, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025

And surveys indicate that business leaders are generally optimistic about hiring more workers in the coming months, expecting the incoming Trump administration to cut business taxes and regulations. —Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

optimist + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

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