What does "thankfully" mean?

1. (fortunately) you use this to say you are glad or relieved about a situation. 2. (with gratitude) in a way that shows you are grateful or giving thanks.

How do you use "thankfully"?

Usually placed at the beginning of a sentence to modify the entire clause. Typically follows the verb it modifies.

thankfully

adv.

US //ˈθæŋkfəɫi// UK //θˈæŋkfəli// thank·ful·ly

1 fortunately (adv.)
B1 Intermediate

you use this to say you are glad or relieved about a situation.

used as a sentence adverb to express the speaker's relief that a particular situation exists or has occurred.

Example

Thankfully, the rain stopped just before we started our walk in the park.

Example

Thankfully, the backup servers remained operational during the power cut, preventing any significant loss of client data.

Usage

Usually placed at the beginning of a sentence to modify the entire clause.
- fortunately
- luckily
- mercifully
- unfortunately
- unluckily
2 with gratitude (adv.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

in a way that shows you are grateful or giving thanks.

in a thankful or appreciative manner; expressing gratitude through an action.

Example

She smiled thankfully at the stranger who helped her carry the heavy bags.

Example

The survivors looked thankfully toward the rescue team as they were finally pulled from the wreckage.

Usage

Typically follows the verb it modifies.
- gratefully
- appreciatively
- ungratefully

Word family

Adjectivethankful
Adverbthankfully