happily

adverb

hap·​pi·​ly ˈha-pə-lē How to pronounce happily (audio)
Synonyms of happilynext
1
a
: in a fortunate manner
It was happily the case that Mr. Crawley was not at home.—Anthony Trollope
b
: as it fortunately happens
Happily, some boyhood pleasures don't change.—P. A. Witteman
2
archaic : by chance
3
a
: in a happy manner or state
happily married
… was happily shoveling a plate of ackee … into his mouth …—Zadie Smith
b
: in a very willing way
happily postponed the appointment
4
: in an adequate or fitting manner : successfully

Synonyms of happily

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Of course not, they're happily set to continue demanding a salary cap to be more like the NFL, the sport with the worst competitive balance in the country and the most predictable outcomes. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Sometimes these stories end happily, with the hunter killing his buck and then coming back down to earth. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026 Minutes earlier the kid was happily playing in the exam room. — CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 And that’s because this genre is set up for the happily ever after romantic ending. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for happily

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of happily was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing happily

Rhymes for happily

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Browse Nearby Words

happify
happily
happiness
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Cite this Entry

“Happily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happily. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

happily

adverb
hap·​pi·​ly ˈhap-ə-lē How to pronounce happily (audio)
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
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