Another word for hoping is wishing, expecting, or anticipating. In everyday speech, looking forward to, counting on, and aiming also work well. Hoping is the present participle of the verb hope. It means wanting something to happen while thinking it may be possible.
The best alternative depends on what you mean. Wishing is softer and can be about things that are unlikely. Expecting shows stronger belief. Aiming and intending fit goals and plans. Longing and yearning show deep emotion. Hopeful and optimistic describe a mood instead of an action.
Quick list: wishing, expecting, anticipating, looking forward to, counting on, aiming, longing, yearning, hopeful, optimistic
This article examines 30 alternatives with meanings, IPA, usage notes, examples, and context, so you can choose the right word for each situation.
At a Glance: Hoping Synonyms and Related Alternatives
| Alternative | Part of Speech | Meaning | Register / Tone | Ideal Context |
| Wishing | Verb (participle) | Wanting something to happen | Neutral, soft | Everyday wants, birthdays, unlikely events |
| Expecting | Verb (participle) | Believing something will happen | Neutral | Events you think are likely |
| Anticipating | Verb (participle) | Looking ahead to something, often with readiness | Neutral to formal | Planning, events, results |
| Looking forward to | Phrasal verb | Waiting for something with pleasure | Neutral, warm | Trips, meetings, good news |
| Counting on | Phrasal verb | Relying on something happening | Informal to neutral | Help, support, results |
| Aiming | Verb (participle) | Trying to reach a goal | Neutral | Goals and targets |
| Aspiring | Verb (participle) / adjective | Wanting to achieve something great | Formal | Careers, ambitions |
| Longing | Verb (participle) | Wanting something very strongly | Emotional, literary | Missing people, places, or a better life |
| Hopeful | Adjective | Feeling that good things may happen | Neutral | Describing a mood or outlook |
| Optimistic | Adjective | Expecting good results | Neutral | Outlook on the future |
Which Word Should You Use?
| If you want to… | Use | Why |
| Say you want something that may not be likely | Wishing | It allows for unlikely outcomes |
| Say you think something will probably happen | Expecting | It shows stronger belief than hoping |
| Show you are happy about a future event | Looking forward to | It adds pleasure and excitement |
| Say you depend on something happening | Counting on | It shows reliance |
| Talk about a goal you are working toward | Aiming | It shows effort and direction |
| Describe a big career or life ambition | Aspiring | It sounds formal and serious |
| Show deep emotional need | Yearning | It is stronger and more emotional than hoping |
| Describe someone’s mood, not an action | Hopeful | It is an adjective for feelings |
Exploring the Multiple Meanings of “Hoping”
1. Wanting Something With Some Expectation
- Meaning: Wanting something to happen and thinking it may be possible.
- Explanation: This is the main sense. Hoping combines desire and possibility. If you only want something with no real chance, wishing is often closer.
- Example: We are hoping for good weather on Saturday.
2. Trusting That Something Is True or Will Happen
- Meaning: Feeling or trusting that something is true or will turn out well.
- Explanation: This sense is common with that clauses or with no connecting word. It is used for situations where the result is unknown.
- Example: I’m hoping she got home safely.
3. Intending or Planning to Do Something
- Meaning: Planning to do something and thinking it is possible.
- Explanation: With to plus a verb, hoping often sounds like a soft plan. It shows a goal, but not a promise.
- Example: They are hoping to buy a house next year.
4. Politely Making a Request
- Meaning: Softening a question or request.
- Explanation: In the past continuous, I was hoping is a polite way to ask for something. The past tense does not mean the hope is over.
- Example: I was hoping you could help me with this report.
5. Having Confidence in a Good Outcome
- Meaning: Looking toward the future with a positive feeling.
- Explanation: This sense overlaps with feelings like optimism. It can be used for hopes about people, health, or events, often with for.
- Example: The family is still hoping for good news from the doctors.
Sources: Merriam-Webster Dictionary (hope); Collins English Dictionary (hope); Dictionary.com (hope).
Analyzing 30 Hoping Alternatives in Detail
Some alternatives below are close synonyms of hoping, while others are related words that fit only certain situations.
Core Everyday Alternatives
1. Wishing
IPA: /ˈwɪʃɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Feeling or expressing a desire for something to happen or be true.
- Usage: A close synonym for hoping. It is softer and often fits things that are unlikely or impossible. It also works for kind words, as in “wishing you well.”
- Example: She was wishing the meeting would end early.
2. Expecting
IPA: /ɪkˈspɛktɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Thinking that something will probably happen.
- Usage: A related alternative, not an exact synonym. It shows stronger belief than hoping, and it does not need to include any wish.
- Example: We are expecting rain tomorrow.
3. Wanting
IPA: US /ˈwɑːntɪŋ/ · UK /ˈwɒntɪŋ/
Definition: Having a desire for something.
- Usage: A related alternative. It shows desire but not expectation, so it is plainer and more direct than hoping.
- Example: He is wanting a promotion this year.
4. Trusting
IPA: /ˈtrʌstɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Believing that something is true or will happen.
- Usage: A related alternative. It fits the sense of hoping that something is true. It often shows more confidence than hoping.
- Example: I’m trusting that you will arrive on time.
5. Looking forward to
IPA: US /ˈlʊkɪŋ ˈfɔːrwərd tuː/ · UK /ˈlʊkɪŋ ˈfɔːwəd tuː/
Definition: Waiting for something with pleasure.
- Usage: A related alternative. It fits only good, expected events, and the speaker is usually fairly sure the event will happen. A verb after it takes -ing.
- Example: We are looking forward to seeing you.
6. Anticipating
IPA: /ænˈtɪsɪpeɪtɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Thinking about something that will happen and often preparing for it.
- Usage: A related alternative with a neutral to formal tone. It can describe good or bad events and suggests readiness more than desire.
- Example: The shop is anticipating a busy weekend.
Confidence and Reliance
7. Counting on
IPA: US /ˈkaʊntɪŋ ɑːn/ · UK /ˈkaʊntɪŋ ɒn/
Definition: Depending on someone or something.
- Usage: A related alternative. It is stronger than hoping because it shows reliance. It is common in speech.
- Example: I’m counting on you to bring the tickets.
8. Banking on
IPA: US /ˈbæŋkɪŋ ɑːn/ · UK /ˈbæŋkɪŋ ɒn/
Definition: Relying strongly on something happening.
- Usage: An informal, related alternative. It suggests the speaker has made plans around an outcome, sometimes a risky one.
- Example: The team is banking on a win tonight.
9. Pinning hopes on
IPA: US /ˈpɪnɪŋ hoʊps ɑːn/ · UK /ˈpɪnɪŋ həʊps ɒn/
Definition: Placing all your hopes on one person or thing.
- Usage: A phrase that includes the word hope, so it is a stronger form of the same idea. It often hints at risk.
- Example: She is pinning her hopes on a scholarship.
10. Awaiting
IPA: /əˈweɪtɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Waiting for something to arrive or happen.
- Usage: A related, formal alternative. It shows waiting but not necessarily wishing, so it is neutral in feeling.
- Example: They are awaiting the test results.
Goals and Intentions
11. Aspiring
IPA: /əˈspaɪərɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Wanting to achieve something great.
- Usage: A formal alternative for hopes about a career or major goal. It is often used as an adjective, as in “an aspiring writer.”
- Example: She is aspiring to lead the company one day.
12. Aiming
IPA: /ˈeɪmɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Planning or trying to reach a goal.
- Usage: A related alternative. It shows effort and direction, which hoping does not always show. It is common with to and for.
- Example: We are aiming to finish by Friday.
13. Intending
IPA: /ɪnˈtɛndɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Having a plan in mind.
- Usage: A related alternative for the sense of hoping to do something. It is firmer than hoping, because it shows a decision.
- Example: He is intending to apply next month.
14. Looking to
IPA: /ˈlʊkɪŋ tuː/ (US and UK)
Definition: Planning or trying to do something.
- Usage: An informal, related alternative. It fits plans and business goals, and it shows more purpose than hoping.
- Example: The company is looking to hire two engineers.
15. Planning
IPA: /ˈplænɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Thinking about and arranging what you will do.
- Usage: A related alternative only when hoping to means a real plan. It is not a good fit when the result is out of your control.
- Example: They are planning to travel in the spring.
Strong Longing, Formal, and Literary Alternatives
16. Desiring
IPA: /dɪˈzaɪərɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Wanting something strongly.
- Usage: A formal, related alternative. It shows want but not expectation, and it is rare in casual speech.
- Example: Desiring a quiet life, he moved to the coast.
17. Longing
IPA: US /ˈlɔːŋɪŋ/ · UK /ˈlɒŋɪŋ/
Definition: Wanting something very much, often something far away or hard to get.
- Usage: A related alternative with a stronger, more emotional tone than hoping. It often fits missing a person, place, or time.
- Example: He was longing for a letter from home.
18. Yearning
IPA: US /ˈjɜːrnɪŋ/ · UK /ˈjɜːnɪŋ/
Definition: Feeling a deep and tender longing.
- Usage: A literary, related alternative. It is more intense and more emotional than hoping, and often shows sadness.
- Example: She was yearning for a simpler life.
19. Craving
IPA: /ˈkreɪvɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Wanting something very strongly, often a need.
- Usage: A related alternative. It shows strong need, not hopeful waiting, and it is common with food, rest, or attention.
- Example: After the long trip, we were craving a hot meal.
20. Dreaming of
IPA: /ˈdriːmɪŋ əv/ (US and UK)
Definition: Imagining something you very much want.
- Usage: A figurative, related alternative. It suggests a big wish that may be far from reality.
- Example: The boy is dreaming of becoming a pilot.
21. Praying
IPA: /ˈpreɪɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Hoping very strongly, or asking God for help.
- Usage: Used figuratively, it shows strong, anxious hope, as in “praying for good news.” It is a related alternative with a serious tone.
- Example: We are praying that the storm misses us.
Adjective-Style Alternatives
22. Hopeful
IPA: US /ˈhoʊpfəl/ · UK /ˈhəʊpfəl/
Definition: Feeling that something good may happen.
- Usage: The closest adjective to hoping. It describes a mood, as in “I feel hopeful,” instead of an action.
- Example: The students are hopeful about their results.
23. Optimistic
IPA: US /ˌɑːptɪˈmɪstɪk/ · UK /ˌɒptɪˈmɪstɪk/
Definition: Expecting good things in the future.
- Usage: A related alternative. It describes a general outlook, not a hope for one specific thing.
- Example: She is optimistic about the new job.
24. Expectant
IPA: /ɪkˈspɛktənt/ (US and UK)
Definition: Waiting for something with hope or excitement.
- Usage: A related, slightly formal alternative. It describes a look or mood. It can also mean pregnant, as in “an expectant mother.”
- Example: The children sat in expectant silence.
25. Wishful
IPA: /ˈwɪʃfəl/ (US and UK)
Definition: Having or showing a wish.
- Usage: A related alternative that often suggests the wish may not come true, as in “wishful thinking.”
- Example: Believing it will fix itself is just wishful thinking.
26. Confident
IPA: US /ˈkɑːnfɪdənt/ · UK /ˈkɒnfɪdənt/
Definition: Feeling sure about something.
- Usage: A related alternative. It is stronger than hopeful because it shows certainty, so it is not a match when the result is truly unknown.
- Example: The coach is confident the team will win.
Informal and Polite Alternatives
27. Crossing fingers
IPA: US /ˈkrɔːsɪŋ ˈfɪŋɡərz/ · UK /ˈkrɒsɪŋ ˈfɪŋɡəz/
Definition: Hoping for good luck, often by crossing one’s fingers.
- Usage: An informal expression, used for luck. It is usually written as keeping my fingers crossed or crossing my fingers.
- Example: I’m crossing my fingers that the bus is on time.
28. Angling for
IPA: US /ˈæŋɡlɪŋ fɔːr/ · UK /ˈæŋɡlɪŋ fɔː/
Definition: Trying to get something in an indirect way.
- Usage: A related, informal alternative. It suggests hoping plus quiet effort, and it can sound a little sly.
- Example: He is angling for an invitation to the party.
29. Wondering if
IPA: /ˈwʌndərɪŋ ɪf/ (US and UK)
Definition: Asking yourself a question, often to ask politely.
- Usage: A polite, related alternative to I was hoping. It fits requests, though it does not carry the sense of wanting an outcome.
- Example: I was wondering if you could send me the file.
30. Hankering
IPA: /ˈhæŋkərɪŋ/ (US and UK)
Definition: Having a strong, steady wish for something.
- Usage: An informal, related alternative. It is usually used in the phrase hankering for or hankering after, and often fits food or small wants.
- Example: I’ve been hankering for a trip to the mountains.
Sources: Merriam-Webster Dictionary; Collins English Dictionary and Collins Thesaurus; Dictionary.com.
Hoping vs. Wishing vs. Expecting
These three words overlap, but they show different levels of belief.
| Word | Level of Belief | Typical Use | Example |
| Wishing | Low; the result may be unlikely or impossible | Dreams, kind words, unreal situations | I wish I were taller. |
| Hoping | Medium; the result is possible | Real situations with an unknown result | I hope it stops raining. |
| Expecting | High; the result seems likely | Events you have good reason to believe in | I’m expecting a call today. |
One grammar rule is useful here. Use wish for unreal or impossible situations: “I wish I were there.” Use hope for real possibilities: “I hope I can be there.”
Sources: Merriam-Webster Dictionary (hope, wish, expect); Collins English Dictionary.
Hoping and Opposite/Paired Word Pairs
| Word | Paired Word | Note |
| Hoping | Despairing | Despair means losing all hope; the strongest opposite |
| Hoping | Fearing | Both look to the future, but one expects good and the other bad |
| Hoping | Dreading | Dreading is fearing something with great anxiety |
| Hoping | Doubting | Doubting means not being sure it will happen |
| Hoping | Giving up | Giving up means stopping the effort to hope or try |
| Hoping | Knowing | Hoping is not sure; knowing is certain |
Hoping has no single perfect opposite. The main contrast is between good and bad expectations. Hoping looks forward to a good result, while fearing and dreading look forward to a bad one. Despairing describes the loss of hope altogether.
Sources: Merriam-Webster Dictionary; Collins English Dictionary; Dictionary.com.
Common Word Partners of “Hoping”
| Pattern | Common Partners | Example |
| hoping + for | the best, a miracle, a reply, good news | They are hoping for good news. |
| hoping + to + verb | win, see, meet, finish, buy | We’re hoping to finish by noon. |
| hoping + (that) clause | that he will come, that it works | I’m hoping that it works. |
| adverb + hoping | still, just, only, really, secretly | She was still hoping he would call. |
| was/were + hoping | you could, we could, to ask | I was hoping you could help. |
| hoping and + verb | praying, waiting, wishing | They were hoping and praying for rain. |
Sources: Collins English Dictionary (examples of hope); Merriam-Webster Dictionary (entries and examples of hope).
Idiomatic Phrases Featuring “Hoping”
These expressions usually use the base form hope, but they can appear with hoping, as in “hoping against hope.”
1. Hope against hope
- Meaning: To keep hoping even when there is almost no reason to.
- Example: She was hoping against hope that the missing dog would return.
2. Hope for the best
- Meaning: To stay positive about the outcome, often while preparing for problems. It is often paired with “prepare for the worst.”
- Example: We packed umbrellas but are hoping for the best.
3. Hope springs eternal
- Meaning: People always keep finding new hope, even after disappointments. The phrase comes from Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Man.
- Example: He bought another lottery ticket, because hope springs eternal.
4. Pin your hopes on
- Meaning: To depend on one person or thing to make something good happen.
- Example: The town pinned its hopes on the new factory.
Sources: Merriam-Webster Dictionary (idioms under hope); Collins English Dictionary; Dictionary.com.
Word Formation of “Hoping”
Etymology & Structure
Hoping is made from the verb hope plus the ending -ing, which forms the present participle. The verb hope comes from Old English hopian. Related forms are found in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch hopen and German hoffen.
Date and History
The verb hope is recorded in Old English, so it dates to before the 12th century. The noun hope also goes back to Old English (hopa).
Word Class Variations
- Verb: hope, hopes, hoped, hoping
- Noun: hope, hopes; hopeful (a person likely to succeed, as in “a young hopeful”)
- Adjective: hopeful, hopeless
- Adverb: hopefully, hopelessly
- Related nouns: hopefulness, hopelessness
Hoping itself is mainly a verb form. It can also work as a gerund, as in “Hoping for the best is not a plan.”
Sources: Etymonline (hope); Merriam-Webster Dictionary (hope); Collins English Dictionary.
Common Word-Choice Mistakes
- I am hoping you to come: say “I am hoping you will come.”
- hoping for to win: say “hoping to win.”
- I hope I were taller: say “I wish I were taller,” because the situation is unreal.
- I was hoping it will rain yesterday: say “I was hoping it would rain,” because the verbs must match in time.
- We are counting for your help: say “counting on your help.”
- looking forward to see you: say “looking forward to seeing you.”
- I’m expecting a miracle, when you only want one: say “I’m hoping for a miracle,” because expecting sounds too sure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest synonym for hoping?
Wishing is the closest everyday synonym. Expecting and anticipating are also common, but they show more belief.
What is the difference between hoping and expecting?
Hoping means you want something and it may happen. Expecting means you believe it is likely to happen.
What is a formal alternative to hoping?
Aspiring and desiring are formal. Anticipating and awaiting are also formal, but they are about expecting, not wanting.
What is a literary alternative to hoping?
Yearning and longing are common literary choices. They show deeper feeling than hoping.
What is the opposite of hoping?
Despairing is the strongest opposite. Fearing, dreading, and doubting are also useful contrasts.
Is “hoping” the same as “wishing”?
Not exactly. Wishing often covers unlikely or impossible things, while hoping usually covers real possibilities.
Why do people say “I was hoping” when they mean now?
It is a polite way to make a request sound softer. “I was hoping you could help” is more gentle than “I want you to help.”
Can hoping be used with a that clause?
Yes. You can say “I’m hoping that it works” or simply “I’m hoping it works.” The word that is optional.
Which alternative is best for a career goal?
Aspiring and aiming fit career goals. Aspiring is more formal, and aiming is more direct.
Which word is best for a polite request?
Wondering if is a good polite choice. “I was wondering if you could help” works like “I was hoping you could help.”
Conclusion
The closest everyday alternatives to hoping are wishing, expecting, and anticipating. Looking forward to, counting on, and aiming work well in more specific situations. Hopeful and optimistic are the main adjective choices.
Context decides which word is best. Wishing allows for unlikely results, while expecting shows stronger belief. Longing and yearning add deep feeling. Aiming, intending, and planning move from hope to action.
To choose the right word, ask three questions. How likely is the result? How strong is the feeling? Are you describing a wish, a plan, or a mood? The answers will point you to the right alternative.
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