English Dictionary

HOPELESSLY

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hopelessly mean? 

HOPELESSLY (adverb)
  The adverb HOPELESSLY has 3 senses:

1. in a hopeless mannerplay

2. in a dispirited manner without hopeplay

3. without hope; desperate because there seems no possibility of comfort or successplay

  Familiarity information: HOPELESSLY used as an adverb is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


HOPELESSLY (adverb)


Sense 1

Meaning:

In a hopeless manner

Context example:

he is hopelessly romantic

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

Pertainym:

hopeless ((informal to emphasize how bad it is) beyond hope of management or reform)


Sense 2

Meaning:

In a dispirited manner without hope

Synonyms:

dispiritedly; hopelessly

Context example:

the first Mozartian opera to be subjected to this curious treatment ran dispiritedly for five performances

Pertainym:

hopeless (without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Without hope; desperate because there seems no possibility of comfort or success

Context example:

'I must die,' he said hopelessly

Antonym:

hopefully (with hope; in a hopeful manner)

Pertainym:

hopeless (without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success)


 Context examples 


I was ruined, shamefully, hopelessly ruined.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He loved her so much, so terribly, so hopelessly.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

When I ran to push it open, I found that it was hopelessly fast.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I had been hopelessly in the wrong before, but this man's menaces were putting me in the right.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My work, which had appeared so vague, so hopelessly diffuse, condensed itself as he proceeded, and assumed a definite form under his shaping hand.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

One Eye approached carefully but hopelessly.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Dora would look up hopelessly, and reply, “They won't come right. They make my head ache so. And they won't do anything I want!”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Three times the hand essayed to write but fumbled hopelessly.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Lotty, with Teutonic phlegm, was calmly eating bread and currant wine, for the jelly was still in a hopelessly liquid state, while Mrs. Brooke, with her apron over her head, sat sobbing dismally.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He is hopelessly beat, sir.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Fools gawp at masterpieces- wise men set out to outdo masterpieces." (English proverb)

"A fire should be extinguished when it is small; an enemy should be subdued while young." (Bhutanese proverb)

"The secret to success is to walk forward." (Arabic proverb)

"The death of one person means bread for another." (Dutch proverb)



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