op ‧ ti ‧ mis ‧ tic /ˌɒptəmɪstɪk◂, ˌɒptɪmɪstɪk◂ $ ˌɑːp-/ BrE AmE adjective
1 . believing that good things will happen in the future OPP pessimistic
optimistic about
Bankers are cautiously optimistic about the country’s economic future.
optimistic (that)
We are still relatively optimistic that the factory can be saved.
Andrew took a more optimistic view.
2 . thinking that things will be better, easier, or more successful than is actually possible:
an optimistic estimate
over-optimistic British English :
somewhat over-optimistic expectations
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THESAURUS
▪ optimistic believing that good things will happen:
I’m optimistic about our chances of winning.
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an optimistic view of the future
▪ hopeful believing that what you hope for will happen:
The test results made him feel more hopeful about his chances of recovery.
▪ positive thinking about what is good in a situation, rather than what is bad:
Try to be more positive about your work.
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She has a very positive attitude to life.
▪ upbeat having a cheerful attitude and showing that you expect to succeed, or that a situation will get better, especially the economic or political situation:
The Prime Minister was upbeat, predicting that the economy would soon come out of recession.
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an upbeat message about the party’s chances of winning the election
▪ bullish feeling confident about the future – used especially when talking the economic situation, or a company’s chances of success:
He’s very bullish about the company’s prospects.
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Stockmarket analysts expect the bullish trend to continue.
▪ sanguine formal hopeful and not worried about what will happen in the future, especially when the situation seems difficult – a very formal use:
Koons himself somehow remains sanguine in the face of all the criticism.
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Other commentators are less sanguine, and fear that the world economy is on the verge of recession.
▪ rosy if the future or your life seems rosy, it seems good and you expect good things to happen:
The future looks rosy for the team.
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Returning soldiers found life less rosy than they had hoped.
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The price of oil keeps going up, and things look pretty rosy for the big oil companies.
▪ look on the bright side to consider the good parts of a situation, which seems bad in many other ways – used especially when telling someone that they should do this:
Look on the bright side – it could have been a lot worse.