Merrily Meaning
/ˈmɛɹɪli/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
advIn a cheerful or merry way.
Sentence Examples
Singing merrily, they started for home.
Many little red birds always sing merrily in the trees.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Because the parade was so joyful, the happy crowd waved ____ at the passing floats.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The children laughed ____ as they ran through the park and played on the swings under the afternoon sun.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English myriely, from Old English myriġlīċe; equivalent to merry + -ly.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"So quickly the poore mans ſubſtance is ſpent,
But merrily with the world it went,
VVhen men eat berries of the hauthorne tree, […]
And old men knew not vſurie:
Now tis come to a wofull paſſe, […]"
— 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act I:
"Ariell:
Where the Bee ſucks, there ſuck I,
In a Cowslips bell, I lie,
There I cowch when Owles doe crie,
On the Batts backe I doe flie
after Sommer merrily.
Merrily, merrily, ſhall I liue now
Vnder the bloſſom that hangs on the Bow."
— 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 17:
"Then Heidi would sit down and chatter merrily away."
— 1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 50:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Because the parade was so joyful, the happy crowd waved ____ at the passing floats.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The children laughed ____ as they ran through the park and played on the swings under the afternoon sun.