1
a
: in a fortunate manner
b
: as it fortunately happens
happily, some boyhood pleasures don't change—
P. A. Witteman
P. A. Witteman2
archaic
: by chance
3
: in a happy manner or state
4
: in an adequate or fitting manner : successfully
Synonyms
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
After going through nine arduous rounds of IVF, Michelle and Zach Lee happily became pregnant and were on their baby moon when Michelle started seeing sparkles in her vision, like little silver, iridescent shooting stars.
—Holly Maloney, Fortune, 10 May 2024
She’s happily engaged to fiancé Adam Woolard, who works in sales, and is reflecting on her time on the show and in the public eye, which encompassed a large part of her 20s.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 7 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for happily 
Holly Maloney, Fortune, 10 May 2024
She’s happily engaged to fiancé Adam Woolard, who works in sales, and is reflecting on her time on the show and in the public eye, which encompassed a large part of her 20s.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 7 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for happily
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'happily.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Happily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happily. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
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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