Used to express hope or desire that something will happen; in a hopeful manner. Sometimes used as a sentence modifier meaning 'it is hoped that.'
From Old English 'hopian' (to hope) plus the suffix '-fully.' The controversial sentence-modifier usage ('hopefully, it will rain') emerged in the mid-20th century, sparking ongoing debates among grammarians.
The word 'hopefully' has caused more grammatical controversy than almost any other English adverb, with traditionalists arguing it should only mean 'in a hopeful manner' rather than 'I hope that.' This usage war reflects deeper tensions about how language naturally evolves versus prescribed rules.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.