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
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
James Van Der Beek led the ensemble cast as Dawson Leery, a wannabe filmmaker who has his heart set on his own happily ever after with one of his best friends, Joey Potter (Katie Holmes).
—Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 14 May 2025
There also might be bitter jurors who’d happily vote for an underdog.
—Stephen Fishbach, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2025
Ancelotti and Brazil would happily take the same outcome next year.
—Samindra Kunti, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Pavlovsky happily noted that a still from the cult movie was used for the poster of this year’s edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for happily
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Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 14 May 2025
There also might be bitter jurors who’d happily vote for an underdog.
—Stephen Fishbach, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2025
Ancelotti and Brazil would happily take the same outcome next year.
—Samindra Kunti, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Pavlovsky happily noted that a still from the cult movie was used for the poster of this year’s edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for happily
Cite this Entry
“Happily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happily. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
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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