hopefully

adverb

hope·ful·ly ˈhōp-fə-lē

Synonyms of hopefully next

: in a way that expresses desire with an expectation of fulfillment : in a hopeful manner

gazed up at us hopefully

: 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.

The goal is to lower the cost barrier for residents, hopefully reducing car trips and, ultimately, greenhouse gas emissions. —

Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024 Among the products in the pipeline are a line of all-natural soft children’s toys and, hopefully, those elusive socks that Erich has been searching for. —

Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024 Something that is really based on my own experiences and my own interests and my own day-to-day life, but hopefully something that has enough broad appeal and interest that the average person who's not me would like it. —

EW.com, 20 Dec. 2024 Though the game will be streamed on Netflix (and hopefully without glitches like the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match), fans will be able to watch the halftime show live at NRG Stadium. —

Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hopefully