wishfully
In hopeful fantasy
In a manner expressing or driven by hope or longing rather than reality: She gazed wishfully at the display of pastries.
The word often implies that what's desired is unlikely or impossible.
To think wishfully is to let desire cloud judgment about what's probable.
Sadly longing for something
- piningAching with prolonged desire
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- nostalgicLonging for the past
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
sighing · aching · languishing · homesick · sentimental · bittersweet · regretful · rueful
Expecting positive results
- sanguineCheerfully optimistic temperament
- positiveAffirming or certain
- eagerIntensely wanting something
- anticipatingExpecting something to happen
bright-eyed · expectant · buoyant · encouraged · promising · heartening · confident · rosy
Conscious fantasy while awake
- fantasyImaginative mental wandering
- reverieAbstracted, pleasant daydream
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- whimsicalPlayfully fanciful or erratic
fanciful · fairy-tale · escapism · illusion · enchantment · ethereal · mystical · chimerical
wistful
Sadly longing for something
melancholy · sighing · aching · languishing · homesick · sentimental · bittersweet · regretful · rueful · sorrowful
optimistic
Expecting positive results
- sanguineCheerfully optimistic temperament
- positiveAffirming or certain
- eagerIntensely wanting something
anticipating · bright-eyed · expectant · buoyant · encouraged · promising · heartening · confident · rosy · idealistic
daydream
Conscious fantasy while awake
- fantasyImaginative mental wandering
- reverieAbstracted, pleasant daydream
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
whimsical · fanciful · fairy-tale · escapism · illusion · enchantment · ethereal · mystical · chimerical · starry-eyed
covetous
Eagerly wanting others' possessions
desiring · hungering · thirsting · coveting · grasping · acquisitive · ambitious · aspiring · hankering · itching
wishfullyrealistically
In a sensible manner
pragmatically · practically · soberly · objectively · rationally
wishfullypessimistically
With negative expectations
fatalistically · despairingly · hopelessly · cynically · fearfully
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- wishful thinkersPeople who believe improbable hopes
- wishful thoughtsDesired but unlikely imaginings