* Despite the challenges, she remained hopeful that things would eventually get better.
* The doctor's words filled them with hopeful anticipation.
* He looked at the bright future ahead with a hopeful heart.
* The news was bleak, but they held onto a hopeful glimmer of optimism.
* Her hopeful smile was contagious, spreading a sense of optimism throughout the room.
You can also use "hopeful" as an adjective to describe a noun:
* They shared a hopeful glance.
* He had a hopeful expression.
* The doctor gave her a hopeful prognosis.