gladly

1 of 2

adjective

glad·​ly
-er/-est
Synonyms of gladlynext
archaic
: glad

gladly

2 of 2

adverb

glad·​ly
sometimes -er/-est
: in a glad manner:
a
: with happiness and joy : joyfully
gladly welcomed him home again
b
: very willingly : cheerfully
your money will be gladly refunded

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English glædlīc pleasant, shining

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English glædlīce, adverb from glædlīc pleasant, shining, from glæd shining, glad + -līc -ly (adjective suffix)

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gladly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gladly. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gladly

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!