Words / A2

HAP-il-ee/ˈhæpɪli/

Happily means in a happy way, or luckily: smile happily, live happily, happily the shop was open. Happy is the adjective. Fortunately is a close cousin for the “luckily” sense. Unhappily is the opposite. Do not use happily as an adjective (not “a happily child”).

Meaning

In a happy way; also used to mean luckily.

Examples

• “They lived happily in a small flat near school.”
• “The children queued happily for half-price ice cream.”
• “Happily, her fever had gone by Monday.”

Good to know

verb + happily. Adjective: happy. Luckily sense: fortunately. Opposite: unhappily.

Near in meaning

fortunately

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