A person who is poor but eternally optimistic, believing that "something will turn up", like the fictional character Wilkins Micawber in the 1850 Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield.

To be optimistic that "something will turn up", in the style of Wilkins Micawber.

present participle of Micawber

simple past tense and past participle of Micawber

plural of Micawber

Alternative letter-case form of Micawber; a person of modest income or background who remains optimistic that their situation will improve.

plural of micawber

(economics) A level of income, above the poverty line, but not high enough to cope with economic shocks.

The claim that something good will turn up, especially when used to justify optimism. / The claim that financial surplus is success and debt is failure.

plural of Micawber principle