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Meaning & use

optimist

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈɒptɪmɪst/
US/ˈɑːptɪmɪst/

Meaning

  1. nouncountable

    A person who usually expects good things to happen or focuses on the positive side of situations.

    Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an optimist' or 'optimists'.

    Patterns

    • be an optimist
    • a born optimist
    • an eternal optimist

    Even after losing the match, she remained an optimist and said the team would improve.

    My grandfather is a real optimist; he always believes things will work out.

    Optimists tend to see opportunities where others see problems.

Word forms

pluraloptimists

Common combinations

a born optimist
He's a born optimist—even on rainy days he finds something to smile about.
an eternal optimist
My aunt is an eternal optimist; she never gives up hope.
optimist about
She is an optimist about the future of renewable energy.
cautious optimist
After the talks, he described himself as a cautious optimist.

Synonyms and how they differ

idealist
An idealist focuses on perfect standards or principles, while an optimist focuses on expecting good outcomes.
positive thinker
This phrase is more about a deliberate mental habit; 'optimist' describes a general outlook.

Opposites

pessimistcynic

Word family

optimism noun
The feeling or belief that good things will happen.
optimistic adjective
Expecting good things to happen.
optimistically adverb
In a way that shows hope and confidence.

Commonly confused: optimist or optimistic? optimist or optometrist?

optimist vs optimistic

'Optimistic' is an adjective describing a feeling or attitude; 'optimist' is a noun for the person.

optimist vs optometrist

An optometrist is an eye doctor, not a person who expects the best.

Practice

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