hopefully
Hopefully (adv) means in a way that shows hope. Example: “He waited hopefully by the phone all evening.”
How to Use Hopefully
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "in a hopeful way" or, more commonly now, "I hope that".
Some careful writers still object to the "I hope" sense, insisting hopefully should only describe how someone acts. In everyday use, the "I hope" meaning is now completely standard.
Formal writing sometimes avoids the sentence-adverb use; conversation and journalism use it freely.
Word Forms
more hopefully comparative, most hopefully superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He waited _____ by the phone all evening.
Etymology
From hopeful + -ly. The sentence-adverb use ("hopefully, it will work out") took off first in the US and is thought to echo the German word hoffentlich.
Related Words
Rhymes for hopefully
See all rhymes for hopefully →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “hopefully” mean?
The word “hopefully” means in a way that shows hope. In plain terms, either "in a hopeful way" or, more commonly now, "I hope that".
How do you pronounce “hopefully”?
“Hopefully” is pronounced HOHP-fuh-lee (/ˈhoʊp.fə.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “hopefully” in a sentence?
Here is “hopefully” used in a sentence: “He waited hopefully by the phone all evening.”
What part of speech is “hopefully”?
“Hopefully” is an adverb.
Where does the word “hopefully” come from?
The word “hopefully” comes from German. From hopeful + -ly. The sentence-adverb use ("hopefully, it will work out") took off first in the US and is thought to echo the German word hoffentlich.
Is “hopefully” a common word?
“Hopefully” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “hopefully” have?
“Hopefully” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a way that shows hope.
What is the difference between the two uses of hopefully?
In its original sense, given here, "hopefully" means "in a hopeful manner," as in "she waited hopefully by the door." In modern usage it also works as a sentence adverb meaning "it is hoped that," as in "hopefully it won't rain." Both are widely accepted today, though some traditionalists prefer the first.
What is the difference between hopeful and hopefully?
"Hopeful" is an adjective describing a person or feeling — "she felt hopeful about the results." "Hopefully" is the adverb form, describing how an action is done — "she looked up hopefully." The simple test: adjectives describe nouns, adverbs describe verbs, so use "hopefully" when you mean the manner of doing something.
Is it correct to start a sentence with hopefully?
Yes, this is now widely accepted. For decades some critics objected to "Hopefully, we'll arrive on time," arguing it should only mean "in a hopeful manner." Today most style guides and dictionaries recognize the sentence-adverb use as standard English, though in very formal writing you may prefer "it is hoped that."
Featured In
Vocabulary lists that include hopefully: