wistfully
10
5.6
- adverb
- /ˈwɪstfəlɪ/
:
con nostalgia
- He looked wistfully at the old photos of his childhood, remembering happier times.
- speak wistfully
- look wistfully
- say wistfully
No, no, they don't pay us the big bucks to sit around and and and chat wistfully about the weekends.
- No, no, they don't pay us the big bucks to sit around and and and chat wistfully about the weekends.
- It's it's almost like a wistfully hoping that it's going to appear like if if, if I just push my emotions down enough.
Examples
-
My neighbor says, wistfully, "It seems like everyone wants to be a writer but me."
Fiction book (1997) -
Isn't it a shame, he replied wistfully, that women need such permission to live from men?
Fiction book (1997) -
"And even so," she said wistfully, "your knowledge is greater than mine."
Fiction book (1994) -
I looked over at the dog, who was looking wistfully in the direction of the party, the people, I thought.
Fiction book (1997) -
And again, his thoughts turn wistfully back to the home he left.
Academic text (1996) -
Helsse stood where they had left him, looking somewhat wistfully after them.
Fiction book (1993) -
Barely a day went by without one of them speculating wistfully about the reason for his absence and the likelihood of his return.
-
Charlie stares wistfully for a moment, then flips the light back off.
Fiction book (1991) -
I stared wistfully at the television sets in the window at Holton's Furniture Company.
Fiction book (1997) -
"The Dairy Creme," Jamie said wistfully as they drove by the squat corner building.
Fiction book (1996)
Synonyms
13
3.8
Saying something while feeling sorry, often when you tell bad news
11
6.9
In a way that shows you feel sorry about something you did
7
4.5
Showing a strong wish for something you cannot have now
4
4.7
In a sad way that shows grief
4
6.7
In a sad, soft way that sounds like crying
3
7.0
In a quiet, serious way that shows deep thought and a little sadness
1
4.6
In a sad way that shows a person is sorry
1
6.8
In a way that shows hope for something you want but can't have
1
6.9
In a way that shows a strong wish for something
Antonyms
How Longing
Surface Forms
Morphology
wistfully = wistful (semi-transparent) = wist + ful + ly
The formation of the adverb from the adjective 'wistful' by adding -ly is a standard, easily recognised derivation.
Etymology
Wistfully can be remembered by thinking of it like wishful; a helpful image is someone quietly 'wanting' or remembering something they cannot have. That's why wistfully means showing a gentle, sad 'longing' or regret.