What does hopefully mean?
Hopefully is an adverb meaning 'in a hopeful or optimistic way' and, in frequent modern usage, 'it is to be hoped that.' It can modify an action or attitude, as when someone speaks or makes a decision hopefully, but it is especially common at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a cautiously positive expectation: 'Hopefully, the meeting will go well.' The expression is widely used in conversation, correspondence, and professional communication, where it softens predictions without making them sound certain. It can also carry the implication that the speaker is making a wish rather than reporting a firm expectation. Because of this dual function, context determines whether it describes the manner of an action or stands in for a fuller phrase such as 'I hope that.' It is a useful word for conveying optimism while acknowledging that the future remains uncertain.
adverbIn a manner expressing or based on hope. It can also mean that something is expected or desired to happen, especially when used to introduce a positive expectation.
- In a manner characterized by hope or optimism.
- It is to be hoped that something will happen, used to express a positive expectation about the future.
"The exhibition will hopefully open in the spring, giving visitors more time to explore the collection."
"She hopefully accepted the invitation, though she remained uncertain whether she could attend."
"Hopefully, the weather will improve before the weekend."
The word 'hopefully' can do two jobs at once: it can describe hopeful thinking and, in everyday use, signal a cautiously optimistic prediction.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hopefully come from?
The adverb was formed in Modern English by adding the suffix -ly to the adjective hopeful. Hopeful itself derives from hope, which comes from Old English hōp, meaning expectation or chance, and the related Old English verb hōpian, 'to expect or hope for.' The development reflects the longstanding English pattern in which an adverb ending in -ly expresses the manner of an adjective or, more broadly, an associated attitude or way of speaking.
How hopefully is actually used
In informal and professional contexts, 'hopefully' is often used as a softened prediction, as in 'Hopefully, the results will be ready.' In some formal writing, 'I hope that' or 'we expect that' may be preferred. The adverb can also be used to qualify an action performed with hope, though this use is less common in contemporary English.
Easily confused with hopefully
Hopeful is an adjective describing a person, attitude, or situation, whereas hopefully is an adverb describing an action or expectation, often in the phrase 'hopefully, ...'.