happily

adverb

hap·​pi·​ly ˈha-pə-lē 

1

a

: in a fortunate manner

b

: as it fortunately happens

happily, some boyhood pleasures don't change

—P. A. Witteman

2

archaic : by chance

3

: in a happy manner or state

4

: in an adequate or fitting manner : successfully

Synonyms

• brightly
• cheerfully
• cheerily
• gaily
• gayly
• heartily
• jocosely
• jovially
• merrily
• mirthfully
• smilingly

Examples of happily in a Sentence

They have been happily married for 12 years.

They lived happily ever after.

We happily accept credit cards.

Recent Examples on the Web

Almost any charitable organization will happily offer you one. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

The company will happily take you on a day trip to Ko Racha Yai and Koh Phi Phi to snorkel, scuba dive, and kayak around the stunning cliffs. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2024

That’s a tradeoff even the biggest speed junkies are happily accepting these days. —Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 2 Dec. 2024

Or Telegram, where election deniers and neo-Nazi groups happily sit side-by-side despite new privacy changes being introduced this year. —David Gilbert, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing happily

• lived happily ever after
• live happily ever after

Kids Definition

happily

adverb

hap·​pi·​ly ˈhap-ə-lē 

1

: in a fortunate or lucky manner

happily, no one was injured

2

: in a happy manner or state

lived happily ever after

3

: in a fitting, effective, or successful manner

remarks happily worded