look hopefully

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "look hopefully" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a sense of optimism or expectation about a future event or outcome. Example: "As the team prepared for the final match, they looked hopefully towards the possibility of victory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

I look hopefully at the sky and wish the fog to clear soon.

Independent

And sometimes they urge us to look hopefully at the bigger picture.

The Guardian - Music

Some look hopefully to the Latinos, who are set to become a majority in the state in 2040.

The Economist

Indeed, newspapers look hopefully towards these other areas of the media where a pay model has already been introduced.

The Guardian

Ward fans might look, hopefully, to Kovalev's most recent fight, when he struggled, in July, to land clean punches on a designated opponent named Isaac Chilemba.

The New Yorker

Even so, as the summer approaches, many of us look hopefully at listings of Children's Museums in towns that we will visit, and in the towns along the way to the towns that we will visit, because, "Hey!

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

McCain stepped back, and looked hopefully to Hagee.

The New Yorker

I looked hopefully where the river entered the narrow gorge.

The New York Times - Travel

I will be looking hopefully for new translations.

The Guardian

And Mr. Rogness is looking hopefully to next year.

The New York Times

He looks hopefully to the ref, who turns away indifferently.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "look hopefully" to convey a sense of optimism and anticipation, especially when describing someone's expectations about a future event or outcome. It adds a human element to descriptions, making them more relatable.

Common error

While "look hopefully" is perfectly acceptable, be mindful of its frequency in formal or academic writing. Overusing it can make your writing sound less objective. Instead, consider using more nuanced vocabulary to convey expectation or anticipation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "look hopefully" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe the manner in which an action is performed. It typically follows a verb of perception (like "look", "gaze", or "watch") to indicate an action done with optimism or anticipation. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "look hopefully" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to express optimism and anticipation, as confirmed by Ludwig. While adaptable, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts. When writing, use "look hopefully" to add a relatable human element to your descriptions. Be mindful not to overuse it in formal or academic writing; consider more nuanced alternatives when appropriate. Overall, it is a versatile phrase that effectively conveys a positive outlook.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gaze with anticipation

Replaces "look" with "gaze" and "hopefully" with "with anticipation", emphasizing a visual and expectant observation.

watch with optimism

Substitutes "look" with "watch" and "hopefully" with "with optimism", focusing on observing a situation with a positive outlook.

await with expectation

Replaces the verb "look" with "await" and "hopefully" with "with expectation", highlighting a sense of waiting for something positive to happen.

regard optimistically

Changes "look hopefully" to "regard optimistically", offering a more formal tone to express a positive view.

view with hope

Replaces "look hopefully" with "view with hope", simplifying the phrase while retaining the core meaning of optimism.

anticipate positively

Substitutes the entire phrase with "anticipate positively", emphasizing the act of expecting something favorable.

expect with optimism

Replaces "look" with "expect" and "hopefully" with "with optimism", highlighting an expectation of a positive outcome.

have high hopes

Replaces "look hopefully" with the idiom "have high hopes", shifting from a visual action to an internal feeling of optimism.

be optimistic about

Replaces "look hopefully" with "be optimistic about", changing the structure to focus on a general feeling of optimism.

count on favorably

Changes the phrase to "count on favorably", implying reliance and a positive expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "look hopefully" in a sentence?

You can use "look hopefully" to describe someone's optimistic expectation or anticipation of a future event, as in, "They "look hopefully" toward a brighter future".

What are some alternatives to "look hopefully"?

Alternatives include phrases like "gaze with anticipation", "watch with optimism", or "await with expectation", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "look hopefully"?

While grammatically correct, overuse of "look hopefully" in formal or academic writing might diminish the objective tone. Consider using more specific language to describe expectations in such contexts.

What's the difference between "look hopefully" and "hopeful look"?

"Look hopefully" is an adverbial phrase describing the action of looking. "Hopeful look" is a noun phrase referring to the appearance of someone's gaze. For example: "She gave a hopeful look" versus "She "look hopefully" at the sky".