1
a
: in a fortunate manner
b
: as it fortunately happens
happily, some boyhood pleasures don't change—
P. A. Witteman
P. A. Witteman2
archaic
: by chance
3
: in a happy manner or state
4
: in an adequate or fitting manner : successfully
Synonyms
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
The star has three daughters from previous relationships: Phoenix, 25, Angel, 16, and Madison, 12.
03 of 05
Geri Halliwell
Geri Halliwell is happily in love.
—Lizzie Hyman, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
There are plenty of creators out there who would happily work in a YouTube-like advertising revenue system for audio, but Google never bothered to build one.
—David Pierce, The Verge, 2 Apr. 2024
Then there was the time SGE all too happily made up information about something that doesn’t even exist.
—Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
That is such a happily ever after moment of a son who has been missing for 24 years walking through the door.
—Megan Vick, Variety, 1 Apr. 2024
Installation took less than a day, and the water heater is now humming happily in our basement.
—Tik Root, WIRED, 30 Mar. 2024
Hollywood may not be able to categorize Ms. Hall, but the fashion world has happily embraced her many variations.
—Thessaly La Force, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
For now, Goody remains at her post in the mill each day, happily quizzing clients on the phone, training weavers, inspecting fabric, creating samples and rushing orders for costume designers, all the while bringing us closer to a past that, thanks to her, feels newly tangible.
—Rachel Dickinson, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
Scenic Air operates charters flown by affable pilots who will happily point out wildlife and landmarks such as the stunning Lake Natron.
—Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2024
Lizzie Hyman, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
There are plenty of creators out there who would happily work in a YouTube-like advertising revenue system for audio, but Google never bothered to build one.
—David Pierce, The Verge, 2 Apr. 2024
Then there was the time SGE all too happily made up information about something that doesn’t even exist.
—Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
That is such a happily ever after moment of a son who has been missing for 24 years walking through the door.
—Megan Vick, Variety, 1 Apr. 2024
Installation took less than a day, and the water heater is now humming happily in our basement.
—Tik Root, WIRED, 30 Mar. 2024
Hollywood may not be able to categorize Ms. Hall, but the fashion world has happily embraced her many variations.
—Thessaly La Force, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
For now, Goody remains at her post in the mill each day, happily quizzing clients on the phone, training weavers, inspecting fabric, creating samples and rushing orders for costume designers, all the while bringing us closer to a past that, thanks to her, feels newly tangible.
—Rachel Dickinson, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
Scenic Air operates charters flown by affable pilots who will happily point out wildlife and landmarks such as the stunning Lake Natron.
—Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'happily.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Articles Related to happily
Dictionary Entries Near happily
Cite this Entry
“Happily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happily. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
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
More from Merriam-Webster on happily
Nglish: Translation of happily for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of happily for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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