gaily
adverb
gai·ly ˈgā-lē 
variants or less commonly gayly
: in a gay manner : marked by gaiety
Synonyms
- brightly
- cheerfully
- cheerily
- happily
- heartily
- jocosely
- jovially
- merrily
- mirthfully
- smilingly
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
we sat around the table, gaily teasing each other and laughing about the good old days children gaily running to the buses on the last day of school
Recent Examples on the Web The movie is a beastly thing, and proud of it—a gaily sadistic kerfuffle, from which all traces of tenderness have been expunged. 
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2022 Casanova gaily set off for southern Italy, expecting to live well there. Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 20 June 2022 Peer into their forbidding black hoods and gaily stitched pieces of hot-pink woolen felt inside invite unexpected visual caresses. Christopher Knightart Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2022 The east side of the field had been set apart for those in carriages, and soon from one end to the other, it was filled with vehicles of all descriptions gaily decorated in blue and gold and in white and red. al, 22 Nov. 2021 The walls were gaily papered with Sunday supplements of the Mobile Register. Kate Bolick, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020 The walls were gaily papered with Sunday supplements of the Mobile Register. Kate Bolick, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020 The walls were gaily papered with Sunday supplements of the Mobile Register. Kate Bolick, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020 The walls were gaily papered with Sunday supplements of the Mobile Register. Kate Bolick, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020 See More
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2022 Casanova gaily set off for southern Italy, expecting to live well there. Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 20 June 2022 Peer into their forbidding black hoods and gaily stitched pieces of hot-pink woolen felt inside invite unexpected visual caresses. Christopher Knightart Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2022 The east side of the field had been set apart for those in carriages, and soon from one end to the other, it was filled with vehicles of all descriptions gaily decorated in blue and gold and in white and red. al, 22 Nov. 2021 The walls were gaily papered with Sunday supplements of the Mobile Register. Kate Bolick, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020 The walls were gaily papered with Sunday supplements of the Mobile Register. Kate Bolick, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020 The walls were gaily papered with Sunday supplements of the Mobile Register. Kate Bolick, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020 The walls were gaily papered with Sunday supplements of the Mobile Register. Kate Bolick, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English gayly, from gay gay entry 1 + -ly -ly entry 2
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
gaily
adverb
gai·ly
ˈgā-lē
1
: in a merry or lively way
Children were playing gaily.
2
: in a bright or showy way
The performers were gaily dressed.
gaily
adverb
variants also gayly
1
as in cheerfully
in a cheerful or happy manner we sat around the table, gaily teasing each other and laughing about the good old days Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cheerfully
- happily
- merrily
- cheerily
- jovially
- smilingly
- jocosely
- mirthfully
- heartily
- joyfully
- joyously
- brightly
- exuberantly
- giddily
- blithely
- laughingly
- amusedly
- sunnily
- breezily
- blissfully
- lightheartedly
- friendly
- jocularly
- optimistically
- amicably
- rapturously
- gladly
- friendlily
- good-humoredly
- elatedly
- sanguinely
- good-naturedly
- hopefully
- euphorically
- gigglingly
- blithesomely
- gladsomely
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unhappily
- darkly
- heavily
- morosely
- mournfully
- dejectedly
- disconsolately
- sorrowfully
- miserably
- dolefully
- despondently
- forlornly
- dispiritedly
- bleakly
- sullenly
- sulkily
- glumly
- plaintively
- sternly
- cheerlessly
- wretchedly
- abjectly
- sourly
- gloomily
- dolorously
- drearily
- dourly
- dismally
- pessimistically
- blackly
- mirthlessly
2
as in lively
in a quick and spirited manner children gaily running to the buses on the last day of school Synonyms & Similar Words
- lively
- playfully
- airily
- buoyantly
- spiritedly
- vivaciously
- pertly
- animatedly
- perkily
- sprightly
- trippingly
- bouncily
- briskly
- jauntily
- sportively
- energetically
- livelily
- animately
- friskily
- sparkily
- breezily
- crisply
- snappily
- effervescently
- racily
- high-spiritedly
- spryly
- agilely
- cockily
- skittishly
- dashingly
- jazzily
- springily
- nimbly
- allegro
- dapperly
- gamesomely
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sluggishly
- lazily
- dully
- idly
- indolently
- halfheartedly
- tardily
- wearily
- lethargically
- listlessly
- heavily
- tiredly
- slothfully
- inanimately
- inactively
3
as in brightly
in a manner that is colorful and tends to arouse gaiety the Mexican dancers were gaily dressed in lavish, bright costumes Synonyms & Similar Words
- brightly
- colorfully
- neatly
- bravely
- ostentatiously
- brilliantly
- loudly
- gaudily
- flamboyantly
- pertly
- garishly
- loud
- flashily
- smartly
- conspicuously
- gallantly
- richly
- splendidly
- ornately
- nattily
- luridly
- strikingly
- gorgeously
- dashingly
- spectacularly
- spiffily
- fancily
- swankily
- jazzily
- snappily
- dapperly
- shockingly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dully
- unobtrusively
- demurely
- quietly
- inconspicuously
- chastely
- modestly
- drably
- boringly
- unpretentiously
- somberly
- plainly
- conservatively
- simply
- severely
- colorlessly
- bleakly