gladly
Americanadverb
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with happiness, pleasure, or delight; joyfully.
Thank you for your friendship, which I gladly accept.
-
willingly and readily.
I will gladly die defending the honor of my fallen brothers.
Etymology
Origin of gladly
Explanation
If you're more than willing to do something, you'll do it gladly, with enthusiasm. Most people will gladly accept free passes to an amusement park. You can offer something gladly: "I'll gladly give you a ride to the movies tonight." And you can also receive something gladly, with gratitude: "I gladly accept this award on behalf of all the fire jugglers that came before me!" Gladly comes from glad and its root, ghel-, which means "to shine," as in shining with happiness or being radiant with joy.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If you’re invested for a longer bull run, that is a gift you should gladly accept.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
"I would gladly subscribe to Meta One, but only if it genuinely offers unlimited access."
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
When security conditions improved, "we had no choice but to come back -- very gladly," said GOL advisor Alberto Fajerman.
From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026
Again the reigning successor to George III will be obliged to say nice words about the men his ancestor would gladly have hanged from the nearest tree.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 27, 2026
Atlas, seeing a chance of being relieved forever from his heavy task, gladly agreed.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
