easy
She waited hopefully for good news.
What does Hopefully mean?
Hopefully means with hope or I hope.
Dictionary definition
Hopefully means with hope, or it is used to say that you hope something will happen.
Example sentences
Hopefully in a sentence
medium
Hopefully, the weather will be clear for the game.
hard
Writers use hopefully to show an attitude of hope about what may happen next.
Writing practice
Ready to write your own? Study the examples, then practice hopefully in a sentence with Sentence Builder checklist feedback.
Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Hopefully
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What does hopefully mean?
The correct answer matches the meaning of hopefully.
Practice 2
Which word is closest in meaning to hopefully?
Optimistically is close in meaning to hopefully.
Practice 3
Which word is most opposite in meaning to hopefully?
Hopelessly contrasts with hopefully.
Practice complete
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You completed 3 questions.
Pronunciation coach
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Hopefully
Voice settings
Sounds like
hohp · fuh · lee · strongest beat: hohp
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordHopefully.
Partadverb.
MeaningHopefully means with hope or I hope.
ExampleExample: She waited hopefully for good news.
Word breakdown
3 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- hohp · fuh · lee
- Strongest beat
- hohp
- Ending
- lee
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on hohp.
Your turn
Say Hopefully
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Synonyms
Words like Hopefully
optimisticallyWith hope for a good result.
with hopeIn a hopeful way.
expectantlyWhile waiting for something to happen.
Antonyms
Opposite words
hopelesslyWithout hope.
doubtfullyWith uncertainty or doubt.
gloomilyIn an unhappy or discouraged way.
Synonym practice
Want to practice hopefully synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "The team hopefully waited for good news," then compare close word choices. Practice hopefully synonyms.
Word family
Hopefully word family
Related words
Explore related words
Student support
Understand Hopefully
Hint for students
Hopefully means with hope or I hope.
Common mix-up
Hopefully is not the same as hopelessly. Hopefully means hopefully means with hope or I hope.
Try it in class or at home
Read this model sentence: Hopefully, the weather will be clear for the game. Clue words: weather, will, clear. Underline clue words that show why hopefully fits instead of hopelessly. Now write one new sentence that shows hopefully without using the word hopefully. Ask: Does my sentence clearly show hopefully?
Teacher prompt
Ask students to explain this model sentence: "Hopefully, the weather will be clear for the game." Why does hopefully fit better than hopelessly?
Learning activities
Practice Hopefully and explore more word games
Cards labelled “Practice HOPEFULLY” keep this word in focus. Explore cards open games with other words.
Practice HOPEFULLY
Sentence Builder
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Vocabulary Match
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Context Clue Challenge
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Use context clues
Practice HOPEFULLY
Synonym Search
Compare meanings in a question that includes HOPEFULLY.
Practice HOPEFULLY
Explore · Scramble
Scrambled Bees
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