Library / English Dictionary

HAPPILY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

In an unexpectedly lucky way

Example:

happily he was not injured

Classified under:

Adverbs

Antonym:

sadly (in an unfortunate way)

Pertainym:

happy (marked by good fortune)

Sense 2

Meaning:

In a joyous manner

Example:

they shouted happily

Synonyms:

blithely; gayly; happily; jubilantly; merrily; mirthfully

Classified under:

Adverbs

Antonym:

unhappily (in an unpleasant way)

Pertainym:

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

Credits

 Context examples: 

Happily I do not mean to harm it: but, if I did, it would not take harm from me.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

But, happily, there were limits to the strain which the rope would stand, though none apparently to the lifting powers of this infernal machine.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

If I could only get back to this forest, I would pass my life very happily there.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Nay, I must have your arm: for, though I speak lightly, now that all is happily over I am as frightened as my brave Roland.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They lived together very happily, and the queen had a son.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

At the time there were reasons, now happily long gone past, which made me determine that the son was better apart from the mother, whose absence at that age he would not miss.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I know the summer will pass happily away.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Happily, two-thirds of couples treated for infertility are able to have babies.

(Female Infertility, Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health)

"Your doctrine certainly sounds like socialism," Mr. Morse replied, while Ruth gazed anxiously from one to the other, and Mrs. Morse beamed happily at the opportunity afforded of rousing her liege lord's antagonism.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

M. Krempe had now commenced an eulogy on himself, which happily turned the conversation from a subject that was so annoying to me.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)