Expectation vs. Hope: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Expectation is a belief that something will or should happen, while hope is a desire for something to happen, often with uncertainty.
Key Differences
Expectation involves a strong belief or confidence that a particular event will occur, often based on knowledge or precedent. Hope, in contrast, is more about wishing for a favorable outcome, without the certainty that it will happen.
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Dec 04, 2023
Expectations are often tied to realistic probabilities or previous experiences, suggesting a higher likelihood of occurrence. Hope tends to be more aspirational, focusing on what one desires, regardless of the likelihood.
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Dec 04, 2023
In daily life, expectations can lead to a sense of entitlement or disappointment if not met, as they are often seen as something owed. Hope, however, is generally optimistic and resilient, persisting even in challenging situations.
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Dec 04, 2023
Expectations can be specific and detailed, stemming from concrete reasoning or plans. Hope is more abstract and open-ended, not necessarily tied to detailed predictions or rationale.
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Dec 04, 2023
The cultural and psychological impacts of expectation often involve pressure or obligation, while hope is commonly associated with positivity, upliftment, and the ability to cope with uncertainty.
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Dec 04, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Belief in the likelihood of an event
Desire for a favorable outcome, often without certainty
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Basis
Often based on knowledge, experience, or evidence
More aspirational, less dependent on evidence
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Emotional Impact
Can lead to disappointment if unmet
Generally fosters optimism and resilience
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Associated Feelings
Often involves pressure or obligation
Linked with positivity and coping with adversity
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Expectation and Hope Definitions
Expectation
A belief that something will happen.
There's an expectation that the project will be completed by Friday.
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Nov 24, 2023
Hope
A desire for a certain thing to happen.
She held onto the hope of one day becoming a doctor.
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Nov 24, 2023
Expectation
Anticipating a specific outcome.
Her expectation of winning the award was high due to her excellent performance.
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Nov 24, 2023
Hope
A feeling of trust or confidence.
She looked towards the future with hope and excitement.
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Nov 24, 2023
Expectation
A confident assumption about the future.
His expectation of success was based on years of hard work.
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Hope
To want something to happen or be true.
I hope you get the job you've been wanting.
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Expectation
A forecast or prediction.
The weather forecast set the expectation for a sunny weekend.
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Hope
To wish for a particular event that one considers possible
We are hoping for more financial support.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expectation
A standard or belief regarding appropriate behavior.
The expectation to be polite is strong in many cultures.
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Nov 24, 2023
Hope
To desire and consider possible
I hope that you will join us for dinner. We hope to buy a house in the spring.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hope
The longing or desire for something accompanied by the belief in the possibility of its occurrence
He took singing lessons in the hope of performing in the musical.
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Hope
An instance of such longing or desire
Her hopes of becoming a doctor have not changed.
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Expectation
Something expected
A result that did not live up to expectations.
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Hope
A source of or reason for such longing or desire
Good pitching is the team's only hope for victory.
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Hope
Often Hope(Christianity) The theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help.
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Hope
To want something to happen, with a sense of expectation that it might.
I hope everyone enjoyed the meal.
I am still hoping that all will turn out well.
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Expectation
The act or state of expecting or looking forward to an event as about to happen.
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Hope
(intransitive) To place confidence; to trust with confident expectation of good; usually followed by in.
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Expectation
The prospect of the future; grounds upon which something excellent is expected to occur; prospect of anything good to come, especially of property or rank.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expectation
The value of any chance (as the prospect of prize or property) which depends upon some contingent event.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hope
The feeling of trust, confidence, belief or expectation that something wished for can or will happen.
I still have some hope that I can get to work on time.
After losing my job, there's no hope of being able to afford my world cruise.
There is still hope that we can find our missing cat.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expectation
(statistics) The first moment; the long-run average value of a variable over many independent repetitions of an experiment.
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Hope
(countable) A person or thing that is a source of hope.
We still have one hope left: my roommate might see the note I left on the table.
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Expectation
The leaving of a disease principally to the efforts of nature to effect a cure.
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Expectation
The act or state of expecting or looking forward to an event as about to happen.
My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him.
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Hope
A hollow; a valley, especially the upper end of a narrow mountain valley when it is nearly encircled by smooth, green slopes; a combe.
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Expectation
That which is expected or looked for.
Why our great expectation should be calledThe seed of woman.
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Expectation
The prospect of the future; grounds upon which something excellent is expected to happen; prospect of anything good to come, esp. of property or rank.
His magnificent expectations made him, in the opinion of the world, the best match in Europe.
By all men's eyes a youth of expectation.
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Expectation
The value of any chance (as the prospect of prize or property) which depends upon some contingent event. Expectations are computed for or against the occurrence of the event.
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Oct 19, 2023
Expectation
The leaving of the disease principally to the efforts of nature to effect a cure.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hope
A desire of some good, accompanied with an expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable; an expectation of something which is thought to be desirable; confidence; pleasing expectancy.
The hypocrite's hope shall perish.
He wished, but not with hope.
New thoughts of God, new hopes of Heaven.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hope
One who, or that which, gives hope, furnishes ground of expectation, or promises desired good.
The Lord will be the hope of his people.
A young gentleman of great hopes, whose love of learning was highly commendable.
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Hope
That which is hoped for; an object of hope.
Lavina is thine elder brother's hope.
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Expectation
The sum of the values of a random variable divided by the number of values
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Hope
To entertain or indulge hope; to cherish a desire of good, or of something welcome, with expectation of obtaining it or belief that it is obtainable; to expect; - usually followed by for.
But I will hope continually.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hope
To place confidence; to trust with confident expectation of good; - usually followed by in.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God.
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Oct 19, 2023
Hope
To desire with expectation or with belief in the possibility or prospect of obtaining; to look forward to as a thing desirable, with the expectation of obtaining it; to cherish hopes of.
We hope no other from your majesty.
[Charity] hopeth all things.
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Hope
A specific instance of feeling hopeful;
It revived their hope of winning the pennant
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Hope
The general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled;
In spite of his troubles he never gave up hope
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Hope
Grounds for feeling hopeful about the future;
There is little or no promise that he will recover
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Hope
Someone (or something) on which expectations are centered;
He was their best hope for a victory
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Hope
United States comedian (born in England) who appeared in films with Bing Crosby (born in 1903)
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Hope
Expect and wish;
I trust you will behave better from now on
I hope she understands that she cannot expect a raise
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Hope
Be optimistic; be full of hope; have hopes;
I am still hoping that all will turn out well
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Hope
Intend with some possibility of fulfilment;
I hope to have finished this work by tomorrow evening
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Hope
A feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen.
Their hope for peace never wavered.
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Hope
Grounds for believing that something good may happen.
Despite the odds, he felt a glimmer of hope.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is an expectation?
An expectation is a belief or anticipation that something will occur.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is hope always positive?
Generally, hope is seen as a positive feeling, but it can be tinged with uncertainty.
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Dec 04, 2023
How do expectation and hope differ?
Expectation is a belief something will happen, while hope is a wish it will happen.
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Dec 04, 2023
How do expectations affect behavior?
Expectations can influence behavior by setting standards or goals to strive for.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is "hope" commonly used in everyday conversation?
Yes, "hope" is a common word used in both casual and formal contexts.
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Dec 04, 2023
What does hope mean?
Hope is a desire or wish for something to happen, often without certainty.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can "hope" be used to refer to a person's behavior?
No, "hope" primarily relates to feelings and desires rather than behavior.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is hope important for mental health?
Yes, hope is important for maintaining optimism and resilience.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can expectations be unrealistic?
Yes, expectations can sometimes be unrealistic or too high.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can "expectation" be used in the plural form?
Yes, you can use "expectations" in the plural form.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can expectations lead to disappointment?
Yes, unmet expectations can often lead to disappointment.
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Dec 04, 2023
What are some synonyms for "hope"?
Optimism, aspiration, desire, and expectation.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can "hope" be used to describe something certain to happen?
No, "hope" implies a desire for something to happen, but it does not guarantee it.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023
What are some synonyms for "expectation"?
Anticipation, prediction, assumption, and outlook.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023
Can "expectation" be used to refer to a person's behavior?
No, "expectation" primarily relates to beliefs or anticipations.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023
Is "expectation" commonly used in formal writing?
Yes, "expectation" is commonly used in both formal and informal writing.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can "expectation" be used to describe something certain to happen?
No, "expectation" typically involves uncertainty or anticipation.
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Dec 04, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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