Library / English Dictionary

OPTIMISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A general disposition to expect the best in all things

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("optimism" is a kind of...):

disposition; temperament (your usual mood)

Antonym:

pessimism (a general disposition to look on the dark side and to expect the worst in all things)

Derivation:

optimist (a person disposed to take a favorable view of things)

optimistic (expecting the best in this best of all possible worlds)

optimistic (expecting the best)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out well

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("optimism" is a kind of...):

hope (the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "optimism"):

sanguineness; sanguinity (feeling sanguine; optimistically cheerful and confident)

Antonym:

pessimism (the feeling that things will turn out badly)

Derivation:

optimist (a person disposed to take a favorable view of things)

optimistic (expecting the best in this best of all possible worlds)

optimistic (expecting the best)

Credits

 Context examples: 

This new moon will give you a sense of more control, and if you’ve been feeling out of sorts, the Sun’s earlier move into your sign, on January 20 until February 18, will bring your strength and optimism back in full force.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)