gaily

or gay·ly

[gey-lee]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gaily ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

with merriment; merrily; joyfully; cheerfully.

with showiness; showily.

Nearby words

Origin of gaily

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at gay, -ly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gaily

At a meeting with Netanyahu, Rubio gaily mocked himself by toasting the Israeli leader with one of his famous water bottles.
Marco Rubio Really Loves Israel and Has Pictures to Prove It|Eli Lake|February 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Then he gaily sauntered on, until reaching the theater he stopped and made a number of inquiries.
The Strollers|Frederic S. Isham
It matters not to her; she can gaily slip over the county-border by automobile.
British Secret Service During the Great War|Nicholas Everitt
"There's not the slightest need of your walking alone," Mr. Bantling gaily interposed.
The Portrait of a Lady|Henry James

This was symbolically expressed by burning before her husbands house the gaily decorated carriage that had brought her there.
Woman and Socialism|August Bebel
Sure enough the Master, approaching and recognising the pair, hailed them gaily.
Brother Copas|Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

British Dictionary definitions for gaily

gaily

adverb

in a lively manner; cheerfully

with bright colours; showily

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for gaily

gaily

adj.

also gayly, late 14c., from Middle English gai (see gay) + -ly (2). "The spelling gaily is the more common, and is supported by the only existing analogy, that of daily" [OED].

gaily

or gay·ly

adverb

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of gaily

Examples from the Web for gaily

gaily

adverb

gaily