English Explanatory Dictionary

hopefully

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adv
  1. In a hopeful manner.
  2. It is hoped that; I hope; we hope.

Pronunciation

/ˈhəʊp.fə.li/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-hopefully.wav /ˈhoʊp.fə.li/

Word forms

hopefully more hopefully most hopefully

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *tōhopōnder. Old English tōhopa Old English hopa Middle English hope English hope Proto-Indo-European *pleh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁nós Proto-Germanic *fullaz Proto-Germanic *-fullaz Old English -ful Middle English -ful English -ful English hopeful Proto-Indo-European *leyg- Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English hopefully From hopeful + -ly. The use as a sentence adverb first gained currency in the United States and has been explained as a possible calque of German hoffentlich.

Synonyms

fingers crossed

Derived words

it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive
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