Definition of hopefully

The word "hopefully" has a fascinating history. In Old English, the adverb "hōpfullie" meant "full of hope," but it wasn't until the 14th century that "hopefully" started being used to mean "in a hopeful manner" or "with hope." During this time, the word described a person's attitude or emotions, rather than an object or action. Fast forward to the 20th century, and linguists began to notice a shift in the way "hopefully" was being used. Suddenly, people were using it to express a modal sense of uncertainty or doubt – e.g., "Hopefully, it won't rain tomorrow" or "Hopefully, she'll call me back." This new usage was met with controversy, with some arguing it was grammatically incorrect. Despite the debates, "hopefully" has become widely accepted in modern English, and its ambiguity has given rise to a new form of expression. Today, "hopefully" can mean both "with hope" and "it is hoped."