optimism

Optimism is the state of being cheerful or hopeful about the future and about the world around you.

(noun)

An example of optimism is when you are in a bad situation, but you remain cheerful and confident it will all turn out right in the end.

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See optimism in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. Philos.
    1. the doctrine held by Leibniz and others that the existing world is the best possible
    2. the doctrine or belief that good ultimately prevails over evil
  2. the tendency to take the most hopeful or cheerful view of matters or to expect the best outcome

Origin: Fr optimisme < L optimus, best: see optimum

Related Forms:

See optimism in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A tendency to expect the best possible outcome or dwell on the most hopeful aspects of a situation: “There is a touch of optimism in every worry about one's own moral cleanliness” (Victoria Ocampo).
  2. Philosophy
    a. The doctrine, asserted by Leibniz, that this world is the best of all possible worlds.
    b. The belief that the universe is improving and that good will ultimately triumph over evil.

Origin:

Origin: French optimisme

Origin: , from New Latin optimum, the greatest good; see optimum

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