1
a
: in a fortunate manner
b
: as it fortunately happens
happily, some boyhood pleasures don't change—
P. A. Witteman
2
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
The video uses Drake launching the DeRozan jersey, but is edited to a Kings fan happily catching it.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 19 Feb. 2025
Ruud, a 26-year-old three-time Grand Slam finalist, is part of a long line of ATP and WTA players past and present who switch happily between tennis and golf.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Case in point: Signing in with a Microsoft account will happily sync your bookmarks, extensions, and many kinds of personal data.
—Ars Technica, 19 Feb. 2025
Back at Bar Mercer, Gutfeld happily riffs on a trio of TV anchors who are now without a network.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for happily
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Cite this Entry
“Happily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happily. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
Kids 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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