<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-02-13</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001478484</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>zulily, inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ZU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001564367</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Larsen Tad K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ZULILY, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2601 ELLIOTT AVENUE, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President of Accounting</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>42.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-01-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>28500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-02-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Subject to the Reporting Person providing continuous service to the Issuer, the shares subject to this option shall vest and become exercisable at a rate of twenty-five percent of the total number of shares on the one-year anniversary of January 28, 2014 (the &quot;Vesting Commencement Date&quot;) and 1/48th of the total number of shares each monthly anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date thereafter, such that the total number of shares shall be fully vested on the four-year anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Subject to the Reporting Person providing continuous service to the Issuer, the shares subject to this option shall vest as follows: 10% of the shares will vest on the 12 month anniversary of February 6, 2015 (the &quot;Vesting Commencement Date&quot;); 7.5% of the shares will vest on the 18 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; 7.5% of the shares will vest on the 24 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; 10% of the shares will vest on the 30 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; 10% of the shares will vest on the 36 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; 12.5% of the shares will vest on the 42 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; 12.5% of the shares will vest on the 48 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; 15% of the shares will vest on the 54 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; and 15% of the shares will vest on the 60 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Subject to the Reporting Person providing continuous service to the Issuer, the restricted stock units (the &quot;RSU&quot;) shall vest as follows: 10% of the RSU will vest on the 12 month anniversary of February 6, 2015 (the &quot;Vesting Commencement Date&quot;); 7.5% of the RSU will vest on the 18 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; 7.5% of the RSU will vest on the 24 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; 10% of the RSU will vest on the 30 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; 10% of the RSU will vest on the 36 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; 12.5% of the RSU will vest on the 42 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; 12.5% of the RSU will vest on the 48 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; 15% of the RSU will vest on the 54 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date; and 15% of the RSU will vest on the 60 month anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class A Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Deirdre Runnette, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
