heartily
Americanadverb
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in a hearty manner; cordially.
He was greeted heartily.
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He sympathized heartily with their plight.
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without restraint; exuberantly; vigorously.
They laughed heartily.
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with a hearty appetite.
The campers ate heartily.
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I'm heartily sick of your complaining.
adverb
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thoroughly or vigorously
to eat heartily
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in a sincere manner
he congratulated me heartily on my promotion
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of heartily
First recorded in 1250–1300, heartily is from the Middle English word hertili; see hearty, -ly
Explanation
Doing something heartily means you do it with enthusiasm. Are you ecstatic to see your best friend after a summer apart? Don't just pat her on the back — hug her heartily! When you eat heartily, you show obvious enjoyment and gusto for your food, and when you laugh heartily, you don't hold back. This enthusiastic adverb comes from hearty, which has heart at its center. So if you put your whole heart into doing something, feel free to say you do it heartily.
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.
Hastings laughed heartily when those words were read to him years back.
From BBC ● May 17, 2026
To underscore that point, Tarabay heartily interjects here with, “HELL no!”
From Salon ● Dec. 7, 2025
These were heartily applauded in the plenary halls – but their legal standing is uncertain.
From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2025
I can’t name a single Jonas Brothers song, but I can heartily recommend this trains-planes-and-automobile story, which finds the trio supernaturally hindered from getting home from Europe for Christmas.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2025
“A dare? Your audition for drama club? If so, I heartily recommend you for whatever part you’re trying out for, because you really had me convinced—you had me running through the library.”
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
