happily-ever-after

Noun

happily ever after (plural happily ever afters)

1. (idiomatic) A story, or a conclusion to a story, in which all the loose ends of the plot are tied up, and all the main characters are left in a state of contentment or happiness.
   • 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

   Synonyms:

   eucatastrophe, fairy-tale ending, happy ending, happy ever after

2. (broadly, idiomatic) A happy period of time which is imagined never to end; specifically, the state of happiness in which one or more people (typically a loving couple) dwell for the rest of his, her, their, etc., lives.
   • In the real world, there are no happily ever afters, no storybook endings. We must always fight intolerance and fanaticism.1994 May 25, [Karen] Shepherd, “Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1995”, in Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 103d Congress, Second...

   Synonyms:

   fairy-tale ending, happy ever after

See all 3 meanings of happily ever after