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
While Sandler's Happy Gilmore may be happily in love with Virginia, the actor has had a real-life love story of his own for over 20 years with his wife, Jackie Sandler.
—Adam England, People.com, 25 July 2025
Winona Ryder is happily settled now with boyfriend Scott Mackinlay Hahn, but the actress had a couple of movie star crushes while making her way in the industry.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2025
Dionysus was a god the Greeks most happily imitated.
—John Mariani, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Surprise, then, that First Steps ends with the team still happily in their home reality with no multiversal shenanigans at all.
—James Grebey, Time, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for happily
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Adam England, People.com, 25 July 2025
Winona Ryder is happily settled now with boyfriend Scott Mackinlay Hahn, but the actress had a couple of movie star crushes while making her way in the industry.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2025
Dionysus was a god the Greeks most happily imitated.
—John Mariani, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Surprise, then, that First Steps ends with the team still happily in their home reality with no multiversal shenanigans at all.
—James Grebey, Time, 25 July 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 29 Jul. 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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