OPTIMISTIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does optimistic mean? 

• OPTIMISTIC (adjective)
  The adjective OPTIMISTIC has 2 senses:

1. expecting the best in this best of all possible worlds

2. expecting the best

  Familiarity information: OPTIMISTIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OPTIMISTIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Expecting the best in this best of all possible worlds

Context example:

took an optimistic view

Similar:

bullish (expecting a rise in prices)

cheerful; pollyannaish; upbeat (pleasantly (even unrealistically) optimistic)

rose-colored; rosy (reflecting optimism)

starry-eyed (unrealistically or naively optimistic)

sanguine; sanguineous (confidently optimistic and cheerful)

Also:

hopeful (having or manifesting hope)

positive (characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.)

Antonym:

pessimistic (expecting the worst possible outcome)

Derivation:

optimism (a general disposition to expect the best in all things)

optimism (the optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out well)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Expecting the best

Synonyms:

affirmative; optimistic

Context example:

an affirmative outlook

Similar:

positive (characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.)

Derivation:

optimism (a general disposition to expect the best in all things)

optimism (the optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out well)

 Context examples 

I am optimistic about your ability to increase your income as a result of this new moon in Aries.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

One chance in a thousand is really optimistic.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

They published a detailed map of the distributions of solubility for calcium perchlorates for their more optimistic calculations, which they reckoned were closer to the true case, with and without supercooling.

(Simple animals could live in Martian brines, Wikinews)

We smiled again, said amusing things, and waxed optimistic over our situation.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

That was it, it was the voices of men, optimistic men, men who breathed success and spent their money for drinks like men.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Previous studies have suggested that patients with lower levels of anxiety or those with an optimistic outlook (and who are more likely to report better perceptions of care), are also likely to live for longer.

(Patients with an ‘empathic’ GP at reduced risk of early death, University of Cambridge)

This is a happy financial day, so be optimistic.  

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Be optimistic—it will bring you some big developments to change the course of your life in one area.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Be optimistic, for you have so many reasons to be excited by life.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

You have so many reasons to stay optimistic.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)