HAPPILY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does happily mean? 

• HAPPILY (adverb)
  The adverb HAPPILY has 2 senses:

1. in a joyous manner

2. in an unexpectedly lucky way

  Familiarity information: HAPPILY used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HAPPILY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a joyous manner

Synonyms:

blithely; gayly; happily; jubilantly; merrily; mirthfully

Context example:

they shouted happily

Antonym:

unhappily (in an unpleasant way)

Pertainym:

happy (enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure)

Sense 2

Meaning:

In an unexpectedly lucky way

Context example:

happily he was not injured

Antonym:

sadly (in an unfortunate way)

Pertainym:

happy (marked by good fortune)

 Context examples 

If you have been happily and seriously dating, you may become engaged.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

When we got home we were talking of the old time—which we could all look back on without despair, for Godalming and Seward are both happily married.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Happily for her companion, she wanted no answer.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Miss Bates looked about her, so happily—!

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Happily for her, they were not many.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

“If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,” said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, “and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for.”

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

But Traddles couldn't get happily out of it.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

During that time I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended with the last generation.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I hope things will go happily with her.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Happily, many couples treated for infertility go on to have babies.

(Infertility, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)