be hopeful, lean on, wish, expect, desire, live in hope, rely on, depend on, count on, aspire to, doubt not, keep one's fingers crossed, be of good cheer, pray, cherish the hope, look forward to, await, contemplate, dream, presume, watch for, bank on, reckon on, calculate on, foresee, think to, promise oneself, suppose, deem likely, believe, suspect, surmise, hold, be assured, be confident, anticipate, be prepared for, make plans for, rest on the hope, hold in prospect, aspire, assume, have faith, entertain hope, feel confident, be sure of, take as a certainty, be reassured, take heart, knock on wood*, catch at a straw*, look on the bright side*, look on the sunny side*; see also expect, trust 1. See syn. study at expect.