The writer of Hebrews offers us a functional definition of faith. It means that once we add faith to the things we hope for in the Scriptures, that very moment we are given ownership of that very thing. It's our handle on what we can't see. Here we come closer to a definition of what faith is, it is trust in God. True faith trusts God and takes Him at His word.
True faith takes a future hope and makes it a present possession.
Hope is future, faith is now. You have the title deed, not necessarily the thing itself. This is where some people miss it. Faith doesn't take the unseen things hoped for and bring them into the realm of reality. That is God's job.