hopefully
adverb
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
Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
The purpose of higher education should be for students to continue to develop critical thinking skills, to grow, to question, to learn, to mature, and to hopefully develop knowledge that will serve those students in a vocation.
—Rep. Steve Weir, Hartford Courant, 20 May 2025
There have been others to follow, but hopefully, Suits LA will help inspire future writers and creators to write and cast authentically.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 19 May 2025
Everyone had the best intentions to deliver something that would be first and foremost unpredictable, and hopefully satisfying.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hopefully
Video
Hopefully
We believe the popular usage of this word is correct
Cite this Entry
“Hopefully.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hopefully. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hopefully
adverb
Share