Wordnet 3.0
ADVERB (2)
1.
with hope;
in a hopeful manner;
- Example: "we searched hopefully for a good position"2.
it is hoped;
- Example: "hopefully the weather will be fine on Sunday"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Hopeful \Hope"ful\, a.
1. Full of hope, or agreeable expectation; inclined to hope;
expectant.
[1913 Webster]
Men of their own natural inclination hopeful and
strongly conceited. --Hooker.
[1913 Webster]
2. Having qualities which excite hope; affording promise of
good or of success; as, a hopeful youth; a hopeful
prospect. "Hopeful scholars." --Addison. -- Hope"ful*ly,
adv. -- Hope"ful*ness, n.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Hopefully \Hope"ful*ly\, adv.
1. In a hopeful manner.
[PJC]
2. I hope; if all goes well; as, hopefully, the dress will be
ready before the party.
Note: Some prescriptivists object to this usage as being
ungrammatical, but it is very common and well
understood. It is usually used to begin a sentence
describing a desired future event.
[PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
hopefully
adv 1: with hope; in a hopeful manner; "we searched hopefully
for a good position" [ant: hopelessly]
2: it is hoped; "hopefully the weather will be fine on Sunday"