What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
happily
Example
She smiled happily when she saw her friend. [happily: adverb]
Example
He happily agreed to help his neighbor with the gardening. [happily: adverb]
joyfully
Example
The children laughed and played joyfully in the park. [joyfully: adverb]
Example
She sang joyfully as she prepared dinner for her family. [joyfully: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Happily is more commonly used in everyday language than joyfully. Happily is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while joyfully is less common and may be considered more formal or literary.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between happily and joyfully?
Joyfully may be considered more formal or literary than happily, which is more commonly used in everyday language. However, both words can be used in both formal and informal contexts.