ray of hope

noun phrase

: something that holds the promise of hope
This new medicine is a ray of hope for/to thousands of people.

Examples of ray of hope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Providing a faint ray of hope in this otherwise bleak start to life, the five baby orangutans have been settling into their new surroundings in Odisha at the Nandankanan Zoo. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 The team can bring a ray of hope Back at the airport in Mexico City, a young man wearing glasses approaches Bello after learning he is headed to Venezuela. — Fernanda Pesce, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Then came a ray of hope – doctors had found a living donor for Ailani. — David Begnaud, CBS News, 22 June 2026 As Glyph rounds into the homestretch the narrative broadens, a flash of transcendence for the soldier and horse, a ray of hope for Petra and Patch. — Literary Hub, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for ray of hope

Rhymes for ray of hope

See All Rhymes for ray of hope

Browse Nearby Words

ray-liver oil
ray of hope
ray of sunshine
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ray of hope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ray%20of%20hope. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of vocation

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All