happily

From Middle English happily, happyly, happyliche, happylyche, equivalent to happy +‎ -ly.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈhæp.ə.li/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈhæp.ə.li/

  • Audio (US)

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• Homophone: aptly (in some h-dropping accents)

happily (comparative more happily, superlative most happily)

1. In a happy or cheerful manner; with happiness.
   • 1719 April 25​, [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], 3rd edition, London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], published 1719, OCLC 838630407, page 311:

     And thus I have given the first part of a life of fortune and adventure, a life of Providence's chequer-work, and of a variety which the world will seldom be able to shew the like of: beginning foolishly, but closing much more happily than any part of it ever gave me leave so much as to hope for.

2. By good chance; fortunately, successfully.
   • 1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, Olympia Press:

     Watt wore, on his feet, a boot, brown in colour, and a shoe, happily of a brownish colour also.

3. With good will; in all happiness; willingly.

   Synonym: gladly

   I will happily help you look for your lost wallet.

4. (archaic) By chance; perhaps.

   Synonym: haply

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:

     And who knoweth whether a thousand yeares hence a third opinion will rise, which happily shall overthrow these two precedents?