hopefully
In a wishful manner
Hopefully means in a hopeful manner: She looked hopefully toward the door.
More commonly now, it means "it is hoped" or "I hope": Hopefully the rain will stop soon.
This sentence-modifying use once drew criticism from grammarians but is standard and nearly universal in casual speech.
Expecting positive results
- positivelyWith complete certainty
- confidentlyWith self-assurance
- expectantlyIn an awaiting manner
- encouraginglyIn a supportive way
brightly · cheerfully · sanguinely · buoyantly · trustfully · faithfully · ideally · aspirationally
In an awaiting manner
- eagerlyWith keen enthusiasm
- anxiouslyIn a worried manner
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- looking forwardExpecting something eagerly
Expression of uncertainty
- perhapsExpressing uncertainty
- possiblyWith some likelihood
- conceivablyWithin imagination's reach
- tentativelyWithout full commitment
doubtfully · questionably · uncertainly · fingers crossed · God willing · knock on wood · touch wood · with any luck
optimistic
Expecting positive results
- positivelyWith complete certainty
- confidentlyWith self-assurance
- expectantlyIn an awaiting manner
encouragingly · brightly · cheerfully · sanguinely · buoyantly · trustfully · faithfully · ideally · aspirationally · wishfully
expectantly
In an awaiting manner
maybe
Expression of uncertainty
- perhapsExpressing uncertainty
- possiblyWith some likelihood
- conceivablyWithin imagination's reach
tentatively · doubtfully · questionably · uncertainly · fingers crossed · God willing · knock on wood · touch wood · with any luck · pending
- grammar debatesirregardless, ain't, split infinitive, singular they, could of
- sentence adverbsobviously, certainly, probably, possibly, perhaps
- future talkgoing to, will do, coming soon, up next, eventually
- humble responsesit was nothing, no big deal, happy to help, my pleasure, don't mention it
- misused wordsliterally, irregardless, ironic, disinterested, nauseous
- casual intensifiersreally, very, super, totally, pretty
hopefullyhopelessly
Without any expectation
pessimistically · despairingly · without hope · doubtfully · resignedly
hopefullydespairingly
In a hopeless manner
despondently · gloomily · without hope · dejectedly · miserably
- stay hopefulKeep expecting good outcomes