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

Under the impression that McDonnell would eventually transition all of her business accounts and incoming $80 million windfall over to it, Banc of California happily fulfilled a $15 million loan. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026

These vines will also happily wind their way around tree trunks and shrubs and fix themselves in place with small rootlets that take on a hairy appearance as poison ivy plants mature. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026

Many, if not most, of them would happily have submitted an application form and their biometric data if given the opportunity. — Dara Lind, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Always free-spirited, Nelson happily retired to his home in Maui and made only occasional visits back to the mainland. — Carl Steward, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 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