| 100% | ATBAT | 5 | Hoping to avert a strike? |
| 97% | ATBAT | 5 | Hoping to avert a strike, maybe |
| 55% | BAIL | 4 | Try to avert a sinking |
| 53% | ONBASE | 6 | Hoping to score a run |
| 53% | BOWLS | 5 | Tries to get a strike |
| 53% | BOWLS | 5 | Tries to throw a strike |
| 52% | TESTFOR | 7 | Hope to identify in a lab |
| 51% | ASPIRES | 7 | Hopes to get a steeple on Sunday |
| 49% | AWAIT | 5 | Hope to see shortly, as a friend's arrival |
| 49% | FLINCHING | 9 | Shrinking from a strike to the body |
| 49% | DELE | 4 | Strike out, to a typesetter |
| 48% | TESTEE | 6 | One hoping to get a pass? |
| 48% | SURFER | 6 | One hoping to catch a break |
| 48% | ATBAT | 5 | Trying to avoid a strike, perhaps |
| 47% | YES | 3 | Hoped-for response to a marriage proposal |
| 47% | YES | 3 | Hoped-for answer to a marriage proposal |
| 47% | YOGAMAT | 7 | Place to strike a pose? |
| 46% | HIGHSCHOOLCRUSH | 15 | Person you might hope to see at a class reunion |
| 46% | SURPRISE | 8 | To strike with a sudden feeling, usually good |
| 46% | SHY | 3 | Unlikely to strike up a conversation |
| 45% | LEADON | 6 | Give false hopes to, in a way: 2 wds. |
| 45% | COILS | 5 | Gets ready to strike, as a snake |
| 45% | SHY | 3 | Unlikely to strike up a random conversation |
| 45% | SEEN | 4 | What a burglar hopes not to be |
| 44% | RAP | 3 | Continuous strike on a surface to seek attention |
| 44% | DIE | 3 | One of two needed to strike a coin |
| 44% | CASINO | 6 | Where you hope to get a good deal |
| 44% | SICKOUT | 7 | Alternative to a strike [cough cough] |
| 44% | BUTANELAUGHTER | 14 | Hoped-for reaction to using fuel gas in a comedy act? |
| 43% | EIGHTBALL | 9 | Last thing to go in a pocket, one hopes |