happily

adverb

hap·​pi·​ly ˈha-pə-lē 

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

• cheerfully

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

Small children happily dash out of the local ice-cream shop, dripping cones in hand. —Jen Chaney, Vulture, 6 May 2026

Love Story's Paul Anthony Kelly looked debonair in a beige sport coat and pink shirt, happily chatting with fans who approached to say hi. —Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026

But by December, as the holidays approached, the Clarks welcomed shoppers who, despite the rules requiring masks, gloves, social distancing and a plexiglass cover at the register up front, happily chose food and gifts to bring home. —Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026

Each time, the friends put down their cans of Miller Lite and happily obliged. —Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026

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