happily
HAP-ih-lee
Happily (adv) means In a happy, contented, or cheerful way. Example: “The old couple sat happily by the fire, sipping their tea.”
adv
1
In a happy, contented, or cheerful way.
"The old couple sat happily by the fire, sipping their tea."
"She hummed happily as she washed the dishes."
"Train operating companies get plenty of column inches in the tabloids, usually for negative reasons. Happily, Southeastern is worthy of praise for having made The Sun for something positive."
— Nick Brodrick, Inclusion and development for all (2024)
"The children played happily in the garden all afternoon."
"This time next month I’ll be happily fishing at the beach."
2
Fortunately; luckily.
"Happily, nobody was hurt when the old shed collapsed."
"I lost my keys, but happily a neighbour had found them."
"Happily, the storm passed before the wedding began."
How to use happily
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "in a happy way" or, at the start of a sentence, "luckily."
Common mistake
When "happily" opens a sentence ("Happily, we made the flight"), it usually means "fortunately," not "in a happy manner."
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more happily, happilier
- Superlative
- most happily, happiliest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old couple sat _____ by the fire, sipping their tea.
Etymology
From happy plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.
Synonyms
View more →
contentedly
luckily
blessedly
bubblingly
chearfully
cheerfully
cheerily
cheerly
eudaemonically
eupeptically
gaily
gayly
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for happily
See all rhymes for happily →Frequently asked questions
What does “happily” mean?
The word “happily” means in a happy, contented, or cheerful way. In plain terms, either "in a happy way" or, at the start of a sentence, "luckily.".
How do you pronounce “happily”?
“Happily” is pronounced HAP-ih-lee (/ˈhæp.ə.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “happily” in a sentence?
Here is “happily” used in a sentence: “The children played happily in the garden all afternoon.”
What is another word for “happily”?
Words with a similar meaning to “happily” include blessedly, bubblingly, chearfully, cheerfully, cheerily and cheerly.
What is the opposite of “happily”?
The opposite of “happily” — its antonyms — is sadly.
What part of speech is “happily”?
“Happily” is an adverb.
Is “happily” a common word?
“Happily” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “happily” have?
“Happily” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a happy, contented, or cheerful way.
What is the difference between "happily" and "fortunately"?
"Happily" can mean either in a happy, cheerful way or, like "fortunately," by good luck, as in "happily, no one was hurt." "Fortunately" carries only the second, luck-related meaning.
When does "happily" mean luckily?
"Happily" means luckily or fortunately when it introduces a whole statement about a welcome outcome, as in "happily, the rain stopped in time." In this use it comments on the situation rather than describing how an action was done.
Where does "happily" go in a sentence?
When "happily" describes how something is done, it usually follows the verb, as in "she sang happily." When it means fortunately, it typically begins the sentence and is set off by a comma, as in "happily, everyone arrived safely."
How is "happily" used in "happily ever after"?
In the phrase "happily ever after," "happily" describes living in a contented, cheerful way for the rest of one's life, and traditionally closes a fairy tale. It draws on the first sense of "happily," meaning in a happy way.
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