What does optimistically mean?
Word: Optimistically
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: Optimistically means in a hopeful way, expecting that things will turn out well.
Synonyms: positively
How do you spell optimistically?
Syllables: op - ti - mis - ti - cal - ly
Tricky part: Students often write the ending as icly. Words ending in ic, like optimistic, add ally to make the adverb.
Watch out for: optimisticly, optimisticaly
Memory tip: An optimist always has an ally: when you turn optimistic into an adverb, add ally to the ic.
Optimistically in a sentence
Example 1: Arjun looked optimistically at the grey sky and packed his cricket kit anyway.
Example 2: The team talked optimistically about the next match after a hard week of training.
Example 3: Sofia smiled optimistically as she opened the envelope with her results.
Fun Fact
People say a glass is half full when they look at things optimistically, and half empty when they expect the worst.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
optimistically
a) hopefully
b) gloomily
c) cheerfully
d) confidently
Show answer
b) gloomily. Hopefully, cheerfully and confidently are close in meaning; gloomily means expecting things to go badly.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
opt_m_stically
a) i,e
b) e,i
c) a,i
d) i,i
Show answer
d) i,i. Say op-ti-mis slowly: both short vowel sounds here are written with an i.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) optimistically
b) enthousiastically
c) automatically
d) fantastically
Show answer
b) enthousiastically. Enthusiastically begins like enthusiasm, with no o after the th.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Noah speaks optimistically about the school trip. What does he probably expect?
a) that it will be boring
b) that it will be cancelled
c) that it will rain all day
d) that it will be fun
Show answer
d) that it will be fun
2. Which person is thinking optimistically?
a) a girl who expects her plant to flower soon
b) a man who thinks the bus will never come
c) a boy who is sure he will lose the race
d) a woman who expects the shop to be shut
Show answer
a) a girl who expects her plant to flower soon
