What does healthily mean?
Healthily is an adverb meaning “in a healthy manner.” It commonly describes how people eat, live, exercise, sleep, or care for their bodies, as in eating healthily or living healthily. The word can also refer to the vigorous and sound growth of plants or animals. Its meaning is generally positive and practical: it suggests habits, conditions, or activities that support physical well-being. Healthily is related to the adjective healthy and is formed with the standard adverbial suffix -ly. In everyday use it is natural and familiar, though in highly formal contexts a phrase such as “in a healthy way” may be preferred. The word is useful because it allows speakers to describe not only a result—being healthy—but the manner or approach by which that result is achieved. It is also frequently used when discussing food, lifestyle, and the development of children or other living organisms.
adverbIn a way that is conducive to good health, or in a manner characterized by physical well-being. It can also describe living, eating, sleeping, or growing in a healthy manner.
- In a manner associated with good health and physical well-being.
"The company has worked to make its employees healthier by encouraging them to exercise and eat healthily."
"The children grew healthily after several months of outdoor activities and regular meals."
"The restaurant offers a wide selection of dishes that can be enjoyed healthily without sacrificing flavor."
“Healthily” is the small but useful link that turns an adjective into a description of how something is done.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does healthily come from?
Healthily was formed by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to healthy, which in turn derives from health. The word health ultimately comes from Old English hælþ, meaning wholeness, soundness, or well-being, and belongs to the same broad semantic field as heal, healed, and healthful. The form healthily is a productive English derivation, combining the established adjective healthy with the equally established adverb-forming element -ly.
How healthily is actually used
Healthily is neutral in register and is especially common in contexts involving diet, lifestyle, exercise, sleep, and physical development. In some formal writing, “in a healthy way” may sound less marked, while “healthily” remains idiomatic when describing a person’s habits or manner of living.
Easily confused with healthily
Healthily is the more usual modern adverb, while healthfully is a less common variant with the same meaning.