SATVocab Logo
O/Optimistic
All O words
Practice This Word
Visual memory aid for Optimistic

Optimistic

Having or showing hope for the future; expecting good things to happen.

adjective
💡

Imagine This

Imagine a student facing a difficult exam but smiling confidently, believing their hard work will pay off and the grade will reflect their effort.

🔊

Sounds Like

op-ti-MIS-tic

👀

Looks Like

Looks like optimist + the suffix -ic; visually suggests a person who believes the best will happen.

📝

Remember This

Optimistic comes from the root optimus meaning 'best' and is linked to optimism, the general tendency to expect good outcomes.

📚

Other Forms

optimismnoun
optimistnoun
optimisticallyadverb
🔗

Connect With

hope, positivity, confidence, optimism, sanguine

📌

Note

Do not confuse optimistic with naive. Being optimistic means maintaining hope and a constructive outlook, not ignoring reality.

🧠

Study Deeper

Examples
  • She remained optimistic about the project despite early setbacks.
  • An optimistic forecast suggested that sales would recover next quarter.
Synonyms
hopefulpositivesanguineconfidentupbeat
Antonyms
pessimisticnegativecynical
Etymology

From Latin optimus 'best' via Old French optimiste; the suffix -ic forms the adjective, giving 'optimistic'.

Mnemonic

OPTI-MIST-IC: Think of an optician who clears away the mist to reveal the best outcomes; the word literally means seeing the best.