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

At a blissful 93 minutes long, Black Bag keeps audiences happily guessing before dropping its final reveals. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2025

Penn Badgley's Joe gets one more stab at his happily ever after in the show's fifth and final season. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 15 Mar. 2025

Comments Next month, Joe Goldberg, the serial killer who simply loves love, will return for his final stab at a happily ever after in You's fifth and final season. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 15 Mar. 2025

Doug Ford, perhaps happily, might soon be reduced to the role of chief muscle. —Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for happily

• unhappily

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