hopefully

adverb

hope·​ful·​ly ˈhōp-fə-lē 

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 17th century and has been in fairly widespread use since at least the 1930s, underwent a surge in popularity. A surge of criticism followed in reaction, despite the fact that this use is grammatically sound. Hopefully when used to mean "it is hoped" is a member of a class of adverbs and adverbial phrases known as disjuncts. Disjuncts provide a means for the author or speaker to 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, and 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

But hopefully something comes of it because, still, my main focus is to find someone who's willing to go through it and go the distance. —Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 18 June 2026

So do the work that’s necessary to plan for your retirement security, then go enjoy your hopefully long retirement. —Steve Vernon, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Still, hopefully a string of successes can convince companies and investors that the whims of the president alone cannot tamp down on an entire burgeoning industry, an embarrassing thing to have to convince people of in the United States. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 17 June 2026

The wake-up call from this energy crisis will hopefully help neighboring nations overcome the political barriers that have hindered the project, Birol said. —Anton L. Delgado, Fortune, 17 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Video

Hopefully

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Kids Definition

hopefully

adverb

hope·​ful·​ly ˈhōp-fə-lē 

1

: in a hopeful manner

a dog looking hopefully for a tidbit

2

: I hope : we hope

hopefully it won't rain tomorrow