happily-ever-after

A form of happily ever after — Chiefly preceded by he, she, they, etc., lived: often used as a formulaic ending in fairy tales, stories for children, and similar works: in a state of happiness for the rest of his, her, their, etc., lives.

Meanings

nounhappily-ever-after (plural happily-ever-afters)

plural happily-ever-afters

  1. alternativeAlternative form of happily ever after.

    But this is 1979: marriage once again is on a lot of minds and romantic comedies, complete with tradition and happily-ever-afters, are back in style.

    1979 January, “Marriage ’79: Sara & Ted”, in Edith Raymond Locke, editor, Mademoiselle, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 136, column 1
    3 more examples

    Disney CEO Robert Iger believes in happily-ever-afters. For two years, Disney's relationship with Pixar Animation Studios—creator of such blockbusters as "Finding Nemo" and "Toy Story"—was on the rocks, soured by an epic battle of wills between former Disney chief Michael Eisner and Pixar CEO Steve Jobs. But when Iger took over last year, he was determined to kiss and make up.

    2006 January 9, David J. Jefferson, “An Incredible Marriage? Disney and Pixar’s CEO Steve Jobs Talk of Joining Forces”, in Newsweek, volume CXVII, number 2, New York, N.Y.: Newsweek, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 42

    The couple’s romance, captured with intimate closeups and accompanied by a jaunty Europop soundtrack, is rapturous. But Martin’s increasingly provocative ideas throw a wrench in Elena’s dreams of a happily-ever-after.

    2020 October 13, Beatrice Loayza, “Jack London gets an Italian makeover in the tragic and romantic Martin Eden”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 05 Jul 2022

    As a water sign, Cancers are deeply sensitive. They long to give and receive love, and they frequently find themselves always fantasizing about their "happily-ever-after."

    2020 November 6, Kyle Thomas, “Your Cosmic Love Triangle, by Zodiac Sign”, in Cosmopolitan, New York, N.Y.: Hearst Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 Jul 2023
Cite this entry
APA

happily-ever-after. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/happily-ever-after

MLA

“happily-ever-after.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/happily-ever-after. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “happily-ever-after,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/happily-ever-after.

Source: happily-ever-after on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.