1. a person who is optimistic despite having little reason to be, especially one who relies on luck or expects something to turn up rather than taking action
Usage: often capitalized when referring to the character; derived from Mr. Micawber, a character in Charles Dickens's *David Copperfield*; literary or formal usage

Examples

• He's a micawber, always convinced that something will turn up to solve his financial problems.
• Despite mounting debts, the micawber in him refused to accept reality.
• She criticized her brother for being a micawber instead of finding a steady job.
• The company's strategy seemed like micawber thinking—waiting for the market to improve rather than adapting.
• His micawber outlook meant he never saved money, trusting that fortune would provide.