1
a
: in a fortunate manner
It was happily the case that Mr. Crawley was not at home.—
Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope
b
: as it fortunately happens
Happily, some boyhood pleasures don't change.—P. A. Witteman
P. A. Witteman2
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
Zadie Smith
b
: in a very willing way
happily postponed the appointment
4
: in an adequate or fitting manner : successfully
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 32-year-old happily handed out more samples, plus coconut water drinks.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
Don't be fooled As a result, kittenfishing, even when well-intentioned, rarely ever ends in happily ever after.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Bruce was next seen wrapped in towels on the boat, wagging his tail happily after being rescued.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
But even more controversial, Slater had seemed to be happily married to therapist Lilly Jay — and the father of an 11-month-old baby boy.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for happily
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Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
Don't be fooled As a result, kittenfishing, even when well-intentioned, rarely ever ends in happily ever after.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Bruce was next seen wrapped in towels on the boat, wagging his tail happily after being rescued.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
But even more controversial, Slater had seemed to be happily married to therapist Lilly Jay — and the father of an 11-month-old baby boy.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for happily
Cite this Entry
“Happily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happily. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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