Thankfully

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. With a sense of relief or appreciation, this term conveys gratitude for a particular situation or outcome
2. It reflects an acknowledgment of favorable circumstances or events that bring joy or relief
3. This expression indicates relief or gratitude for a fortunate situation or result

Etymology: "Thankfully" is a plain formation: the adjective "thankful" with the adverbial suffix "-ly" added to it. Its roots go back to Old English "þancfull", built from "þanc" ("thanks", "gratitude") and "-full", and the adverb "þancfullīċe" was already in use then. The "-ly" ending turned the adjective into a manner word, so "thankfully" means "in a thankful manner." The word's sense has shifted over time. Early uses described someone acting with gratitude, in the way a person might speak or respond with thanks. The modern sentence-opening use, as in "Thankfully, the rain stopped," is a later development: the adverb now comments on the whole situation, expressing relief about how things turned out rather than describing how someone spoke or behaved. That change is what lets the word sit at the front of a sentence, where it signals the speaker's feeling about the outcome.

Synonyms: gratefully, appreciatively

Antonyms: ungratefully