happily

adverb

ˈha-pə-lē How to pronounce happily (audio)
Definition of happilynext
1
as in cheerfully
in a cheerful or happy manner happily accepted the invitation to dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in properly
in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose one of those rare occasions on which business and pleasure happily mixed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of happily Tulare County Sheriff's Office shared video of Fig happily meeting her family again on July 15. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 After several rocky years that included multiple stints in jail, Phillips has been happily sober since 2010 and is committed to paying it forward. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 21 July 2026 Like Planck’s chauffeur, AI will happily tell you what to think, do, or say. — Ryan Hawk, Fortune, 20 July 2026 Like the broader romance genre, dark romance guarantees a happily ever after. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for happily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happily
  1. cheerfully
  2. properly
  3. correctly
  4. appropriately
Adverb
  • Nicola Piovani’s score evokes a whimsical longing for every era of the designer’s life, as if the audience cheerfully lived it along with him.
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 25 July 2026
  • Perez handled the decision more cheerfully than fans in Sacramento, which is serving as the A’s temporary home while their new ballpark is being constructed in Las Vegas.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of cheerfully
Adverb
  • Pre-chilling your cooler and its contents, layering ice strategically, and packing food properly can all help keep everything colder for longer.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026
  • The vulnerability, which stems from a failure to properly filter HTML embedded in an email, allows malicious JavaScript execution.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2026
Definition of properly
Adverb
  • This includes a way to make sure hardware and software are functioning correctly, and also change management for software development.
    — John Brandon, PC Magazine, 24 July 2026
  • For example, a dividend must be calculated, withheld correctly and paid to the shareholder.
    — Mike Cahill, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of correctly
Adverb
  • After all, there’s a fine line between being appropriately informative and the dreaded overshare.
    — Christian Dashiell Published, Parents, 26 July 2026
  • Without robust harness engineering, an AI's ability to detect and appropriately respond to users in distress can be severely compromised.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of appropriately

Browse Nearby Words

happen (upon)
happily
happiness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Happily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happily. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on happily

Nglish: Translation of happily for Spanish Speakers

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