wistfully

American  

[wist-fuh-lee] / ˈwɪst fə li /

adverb

1. in a way that is characterized by melancholy or longing; pensively.

   As soon as the first colored leaves appear, people start to speak wistfully of the last days of summer.

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Other Word Forms

• unwistfully adverb

Etymology

Origin of wistfully

First recorded in 1660–70; wistful ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

We sit on the balcony, waiting for Papá to return from his prayers, and Mamá turns away wistfully and looks out to the sea as if the sea could give her the answer.

From Literature

“Yeah, not until they finish cleaning up the damage,” he says, then adds, kind of wistfully, patting his dog’s head, “We used to walk in there every day.”

From Literature

"I don't know what he's going to do," she says wistfully.

From BBC

Days later, the conservative and lifelong Atlanticist wistfully called on Germans to put aside nostalgia for an America they had known and loved for decades.

From The Wall Street Journal

In “The Rest of Our Lives,” Tom is a modern melancholic, and some of the stops on his journey are to see people he wistfully associates with his youth.

From The Wall Street Journal