The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word ASPIRING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
A
S
P
I
R
I
N
G
More clues leading to the result ASPIRING
- Hoping I will participate in a period of growth
- Ambitious individual initially employed in a period of growth
- Medicine working finally, so hopeful
- A resilience about one being hopeful
- Drug’s finally looking hopeful
- Ambitious foursome you’ll find on the periphery from 17, did you say?
- Ambitious head of gerontology supports drug
- Cold-blooded killer I call ambitious!
- Drug, good for the ambitious
- A leap circling mid-air is ambitious
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Hoping" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case hoping = aspiring.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ASPIRING mean?
ASPIRING verb- To have a strong desire or ambition to achieve something.
- To go as high as, to reach the top of (something).
- To move upward; to be very tall.
- Aspiration.
- Hoping to become.