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
Claudia Alexander, a resident of Marin County, has been happily cooking for family and friends for more than three decades.
—Claudia Alexander, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
The Hamptons often makes headlines for its splashy, brand-new mansions with Himalayan salt rooms and bowling alleys in the basements, but some of the South Fork’s most impressive and coveted properties are much simpler, more free-spirited, and happily rooted in the past.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024
And in order to build a future where humans can coexist happily, safely and in a state of well-being alongside humanoid robots, much has to be done.
—Amir Husain, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
His owner, Sam Spencer, 31, told Newsweek that the 8-year-old canine has always loved watching TV and will happily sit in front of the screen for around two hours.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for happily 
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Claudia Alexander, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
The Hamptons often makes headlines for its splashy, brand-new mansions with Himalayan salt rooms and bowling alleys in the basements, but some of the South Fork’s most impressive and coveted properties are much simpler, more free-spirited, and happily rooted in the past.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024
And in order to build a future where humans can coexist happily, safely and in a state of well-being alongside humanoid robots, much has to be done.
—Amir Husain, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
His owner, Sam Spencer, 31, told Newsweek that the 8-year-old canine has always loved watching TV and will happily sit in front of the screen for around two hours.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for happily
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Dictionary Entries Near happily
Cite this Entry
“Happily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happily. Accessed 22 Nov. 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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