Library / English Dictionary

HELPLESSLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a helpless manner

Example:

the crowd watched him helplessly

Synonyms:

helplessly; impotently

Classified under:

Adverbs

Pertainym:

helpless (lacking in or deprived of strength or power)

Credits

 Context examples: 

“No! There's no way out of it, Mr. Wickfield, sir,” observed Uriah, “when it's got to this.” —that I did, said Mr. Wickfield, glancing helplessly and distractedly at his partner, that I did doubt her, and think her wanting in her duty to you; and that I did sometimes, if I must say all, feel averse to Agnes being in such a familiar relation towards her, as to see what I saw, or in my diseased theory fancied that I saw.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"How do you get to West Egg village?" he asked helplessly.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

"Please don't!" she interrupted helplessly. "Please let's all go home. Why don't we all go home?"

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

"All right," said Daisy. "What'll we plan?" She turned to me helplessly. "What do people plan?"

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

"Oh, you want too much!" she cried to Gatsby. "I love you now—isn't that enough? I can't help what's past." She began to sob helplessly. "I did love him once—but I loved you too."

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)