hopelessly

adverb

hope·​less·​ly ˈhō-pləs-lē How to pronounce hopelessly (audio)
: in a hopeless manner
stared hopelessly out the window
—used especially as an intensifier
hopelessly optimistic
They fell hopelessly in love.
… the formerly despised and hopelessly middle-class game of golf.—Ejner Jensen

Examples of hopelessly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Leslie Parrish, who starred as the hopelessly in love Daisy Mae in the Paramount Pictures musical Li’l Abner and sported a Queen of Diamonds costume for The Manchurian Candidate, has died. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 23 Aug. 2026 His return was hopelessly delayed by England’s naval war with Spain, then the most powerful naval force in the world. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026 At a time when the glossy profile feels hopelessly compromised, Rachel uses her deep knowledge of musicals, fashion, and old Hollywood to put meat on the bones of fame and fortune—and Rachel loves a good yarn. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026 So talk to me about being a celebrity profiler at a time when that subgenre of the interview seems hopelessly compromised. — Merve Emre, The New York Review of Books, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hopelessly

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hopelessly was in 1616

Browse Nearby Words

hopeless
hopelessly
hopelessness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hopelessly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hopelessly. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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