wishful

An wishful feeling is when someone really wants something to happen or be true, but it's not guaranteed.

When we say someone has a "wishful" attitude, it means they're hoping for something, but it might not actually work out. For example, if you see an ad for a super-cheap vacation package and think, "That sounds amazing! I wish I could afford to go!", that's a wishful feeling. You really want the trip to be affordable, but the prices are probably too high. Maybe someone is watching their favorite sports team play in the championship game and wishes they were there in person; it's a nice thought, even if it won't actually happen. The word "wishful" can also describe a dreamy or unrealistic idea - like someone wishing for world peace, which might seem great but isn't likely to become reality anytime soon.