OPTIMISM


Meaning of OPTIMISM in English

op ‧ ti ‧ mis ‧ m /ˈɒptəmɪz ə m, ˈɒptɪmɪz ə m $ ˈɑːp-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]

[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Language: French ; Origin: optimisme , from Latin optimum ; ⇨ ↑ optimum ]

a tendency to believe that good things will always happen OPP pessimism

grounds/cause/reason for optimism

Recent results must give some cause for optimism.

There are grounds for cautious optimism.

mood/sense of optimism

a new sense of optimism in the country

optimism (that)

There was optimism that an agreement could be reached.

optimism about

I don’t share his optimism about our chances of success.

• • •

COLLOCATIONS

■ adverbs

▪ great optimism

The team was in a mood of great optimism.

▪ considerable optimism

These figures indicate that we can go into next year with considerable optimism.

▪ cautious/guarded optimism (=the belief that a future situation will be good or better than before, although you cannot be not sure)

The U.N. sees cause for cautious optimism in what has been achieved so far.

|

He expressed guarded optimism about the company's future.

▪ false optimism (=optimism based on wrong ideas or information)

In his speech he warned against false optimism about the immediate future.

▪ initial/early optimism (=optimism that you feel at the start of a process, especially when it does not continue)

There was initial optimism about a breakthrough in relations between the two countries.

▪ new/renewed optimism (=optimism that you start to feel again, after you stopped feeling it)

The new leadership has brought renewed optimism.

■ verbs

▪ express optimism

Diplomats expressed optimism about the progress of the talks.

▪ share somebody's optimism (=feel the optimism that someone else feels)

After so many problems, I found it hard to share his optimism.

▪ optimism grows

His optimism grew as the time came nearer for his release.

▪ optimism prevails/reigns (=optimism is the strongest feeling)

Despite the crisis, optimism prevailed.

■ phrases

▪ be grounds/cause/reason for optimism

The lower crime figures are certainly grounds for optimism.

▪ a mood/sense of optimism

A mood of optimism prevails in the White House.

▪ a wave/surge of optimism (=a sudden strong feeling of optimism)

The team are riding a wave of optimism after their recent victory.

▪ be (little/no) room for optimism (=have a possibility that things might get better)

There is little room for optimism in the current financial situation.

▪ be full of optimism (=be feeling that good things will happen)

The 1970s began full of optimism and confidence about world development .

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.