thankfully
UK: ˈθæŋkfəli | US: ˈθæŋkfəli
adv. in a thankful manner; expressing gratitude
adv. used to express relief or satisfaction (e.g., "Thankfully, the weather improved.")
The word "thankfully" combines "thankful," derived from Old English "þancful" (þanc = "thought, gratitude" + ful = "full of"), with the adverbial suffix "-ly" (from Old English "-līce"). The root "thank" traces back to Proto-Germanic "*thankōną," meaning "to think" or "to feel gratitude." Over time, "thankful" evolved to mean "full of gratitude," and the suffix "-ly" transformed it into an adverb, emphasizing manner or attitude. The modern sense of expressing relief ("Thankfully, it worked out") reflects a logical extension from gratitude to positive acknowledgment of favorable outcomes.
She smiled thankfully when offered help.
Thankfully, the project was completed on time.
He nodded thankfully after receiving the gift.
Thankfully, no one was injured in the accident.
The audience clapped thankfully at the end of the performance.