Meaning 1
With a sense of hope or positive expectation.
Reach for it when describing a person's hopeful manner or expression
The children looked hopefully toward the clearing sky.
Meaning 2
Used to express a wish that something will happen.
Reach for it when softly stating a desired future outcome without claiming it will occur
Hopefully, the repaired lift will reopen before Monday.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| playful | ||
| everyday |
| |
| warm |
| |
| professional | ||
| formal | ||
| literary |
everyday
Fits when enthusiastic desire shows in the waiting
Careful Eagerness adds impatience or excitement that hopeful attention may lack.
warm
with hope
Fits when plain phrasing should preserve emotional sincerity
Careful The phrase is less smooth when modifying a quick physical action.
professional
Fits when a favorable outlook shapes the person's approach
Careful Optimistically can imply a reasoned forecast rather than an emotional manner.
literary
expectantly
Fits when visible attention is fixed on something likely to arrive
Careful Expectation may be neutral and stronger than mere hope.
playful
with luck
Fits when chance clearly influences the desired result
Careful Hope may rest on effort or evidence, not luck.
everyday
if all goes well
Fits when a practical wish acknowledges possible obstacles
Careful This phrase foregrounds conditions and can sound cautious rather than hopeful.
formal
it is hoped
Fits when impersonal wording suits an official statement
Careful The passive construction hides who holds the hope.
waited hopefully
The gardeners waited hopefully for the overnight rain.
smiled hopefully
Ivo smiled hopefully as the panel reviewed his revised design.
hopefully return
The swifts will hopefully return to the new nesting wall.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
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