What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
gaily
Example
The children were dancing gaily around the maypole. [gaily: adverb]
Example
She wore a gaily patterned dress to the party. [gaily: adjective]
joyfully
Example
The family reunited joyfully after being apart for months. [joyfully: adverb]
Example
He accepted the award joyfully, thanking his supporters. [joyfully: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Joyfully is more commonly used than gaily in everyday language. Joyfully is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while gaily is less common and more informal, often used in creative writing or poetry.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between gaily and joyfully?
Joyfully is more formal than gaily. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while gaily is typically associated with a casual and informal tone.
