hopefully

adverb

hope·​ful·​ly ˈhōp-fə-lē How to pronounce hopefully (audio)
1
: in a way that expresses desire with an expectation of fulfillment : in a hopeful manner
gazed up at us hopefully
2
: it is hoped : I hope : we hope
hopefully the rain will end soon
Can hopefully mean 'I hope'?: Usage Guide

In the 1960s the second sense of hopefully ("it is hoped"), which dates to the early 18th century and had been in fairly widespread use since at least the 1930s, underwent a surge in popularity. A surge of criticism followed in reaction, but the criticism took no account of the grammar of adverbs. Hopefully when used to mean "it is hoped" is a member of a class of adverbs known as disjuncts. Disjuncts serve as a means by which the author or speaker can comment directly to the reader or hearer usually on the content of the sentence to which they are attached. Many other adverbs (such as interestingly, frankly, clearly, luckily, unfortunately) are similarly used; most are so ordinary as to excite no comment or interest whatsoever. The "it is hoped" sense of hopefully is entirely standard.

Examples of hopefully in a Sentence

They gazed up at us hopefully. Hopefully, things will get better soon.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025 His last season as conductor in L.A. is in 2026; this Coachella set was both an acknowledgement of his massive impression on the city and hopefully lays the groundwork for a yearly comeback in the desert. Jeff Miller, HollywoodReporter, 13 Apr. 2025 So now there's time, hopefully there's an open line of communication and there's opportunity to make this end safely for everybody. Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2025 And more so, hopefully thriving again. Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hopefully

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hopefully was in 1593

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hopefully.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hopefully. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

hopefully

adverb
hope·​ful·​ly ˈhōp-fə-lē How to pronounce hopefully (audio)
1
: in a hopeful manner
a dog looking hopefully for a tidbit
2
: I hope : we hope
hopefully it won't rain tomorrow

More from Merriam-Webster on hopefully

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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