Happily — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adverb /ˈha-pə-lē/ hap·pi·ly

Meaning & Definition of Happily

Happily (adverb)

  1. in a fortunate manner
  2. as it fortunately happens
  3. by chance

Happily (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. in a cheerful or happy manner

    "happily accepted the invitation to dinner"

    similar: brightly, cheerfully, cheerily, gaily, heartily, jocosely, jovially, merrily, mirthfully, smilingly
    related: amusedly, exuberantly, giddily, gigglingly, joyfully, joyously, blithely, blithesomely, breezily, gladly, gladsomely, laughingly, lightheartedly, sunnily, amicably, friendlily, friendly, good-humoredly, good-naturedly, jocularly, hopefully, optimistically, sanguinely, blissfully, elatedly, euphorically, rapturously
    opposite: bleakly, cheerlessly, darkly, heavily, miserably, morosely, unhappily
    near: abjectly, dejectedly, despondently, disconsolately, dispiritedly, wretchedly, dolefully, dolorously, forlornly, mournfully, plaintively, sorrowfully, dourly, glumly, mirthlessly, sourly, sternly, sulkily, sullenly, blackly, dismally, drearily, gloomily, pessimistically

  2. in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose

    "one of those rare occasions on which business and pleasure happily mixed"

    similar: appositely, appropriately, congruously, correctly, duly, fittingly, meetly, properly, right, rightly, suitably
    related: well, acceptably, adequately, passably, satisfactorily, tolerably, decently, decorously
    opposite: improperly, inappropriately, incongruously, incorrectly, unseemly, unsuitably, wrongly
    near: unacceptably, unsatisfactorily, inopportunely, unfortunately, unseasonably, inappositely, inaptly, irrelevantly, awkwardly, ungracefully

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Happily

The most common words with a similar meaning to Happily:

brightly, cheerfully, cheerily, gaily, heartily, jocosely, jovially, merrily, mirthfully, smilingly, appositely, appropriately, congruously, correctly, duly, fittingly, meetly, properly, right, rightly, suitably

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Happily

Words with the opposite meaning of Happily:

bleakly, cheerlessly, darkly, heavily, miserably, morosely, unhappily, improperly, inappropriately, incongruously, incorrectly, unseemly, unsuitably, wrongly

Related Words for Happily

amusedly, exuberantly, giddily, gigglingly, joyfully, joyously, blithely, blithesomely, breezily, gladly, gladsomely, laughingly, lightheartedly, sunnily, amicably, friendlily, friendly, good-humoredly, good-naturedly, jocularly, hopefully, optimistically, sanguinely, blissfully, elatedly, euphorically, rapturously, well, acceptably, adequately

Near Antonyms of Happily

abjectly, dejectedly, despondently, disconsolately, dispiritedly, wretchedly, dolefully, dolorously, forlornly, mournfully, plaintively, sorrowfully, dourly, glumly, mirthlessly, sourly, sternly, sulkily, sullenly, blackly, dismally, drearily, gloomily, pessimistically, unacceptably, unsatisfactorily, inopportunely, unfortunately, unseasonably, inappositely

Origin & Etymology of Happily

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Happily

Words & Phrases Containing Happily

live happily ever after

Frequently Asked Questions about Happily

What does "Happily" mean?

"Happily" means in a fortunate manner. As an adverb, it is defined as: in a fortunate manner. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Happily"?

Other words for "Happily" include brightly, cheerfully, cheerily, gaily, heartily, jocosely, jovially and merrily. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Happily" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Happily"?

There are 56 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Happily". Common alternatives include brightly, cheerfully, cheerily, gaily, heartily, jocosely, jovially, merrily, mirthfully and smilingly.

What is the opposite of "Happily"?

Antonyms of "Happily" include bleakly, cheerlessly, darkly, heavily, miserably, morosely, unhappily and improperly. Near antonyms include abjectly, dejectedly, despondently and disconsolately.

How do you use "Happily" in a sentence?

Examples of "Happily" in a sentence: "happily accepted the invitation to dinner"; "one of those rare occasions on which business and pleasure happily mixed".

Is "Happily" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Happily" is an adverb.

Is "Happily" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Happily" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Happily"?

"Happily" is pronounced /ˈha-pə-lē/ and divided into syllables as hap·pi·ly.