overly
USOH-ver-lee/ˈoʊvɚli/UKOH-vuh-lee/ˈəʊvəli/
- 1More than is good, needed, or wanted.
Like pouring so much water that the cup overflows.
The soup tasted overly salty after he added more salt.
Don't be overly worried about one small mistake.
Similartoo, excessively, superfluously
Oppositeinsufficiently
Note
- 2Very, or to a great degree.
I'm not overly keen on spicy food.
She wasn't overly sure about the plan.
Similarparticularly, very, especially, terribly, unduly
Note
- 3In a shallow way that only touches the surface, not deeply.
Note
- 4In a careless way, without paying proper attention.
If you expect the Poor should work cheaper, and not perform their Work slighter and more overly, as we call it, and superficially, you expect what is not in the Nature of the Thing.
1728, Daniel Defoe, A Plan of the English CommerceHere, overly means carelessly, without proper attention.Note
- 5In a proud way, acting better than other people.
Note
- 6Too much, or more than is right or reasonable.
Note
- 7Shallow and not thorough, or done without care or proper attention.
Hee prayeth but with an ouerly desire, and not from the deepe of his heart, that will not bend his endeauours withall to obtaine what he desireth:
1627, Robert Sanderson, Ten SermonsHere, ouerly means shallow and careless, not from the heart.The curteous Citizen bad me to his feast, With hollow words, and ouerly request: Come, will ye dine with me this Holy day? I yeelded, tho he hop’d I would say Nay:
1602, Joseph Hall, Virgidemiarium Sixe BookesHere, ouerly means shallow and not really meant.Note
- 8Proud and acting better than other people.
Those that know no better, may rejoyce and exult in these worldly contentments; but those, who have had but a blink of the beauty of heaven, can look upon them no otherwise, than with an overly contemptuousnesse.
1637, Joseph Hall, The Remedy of ProphanenesseHere, overly means proud and looking down on things.Note
Showing meanings only.
Use it in a sentence
Write your own sentence with overly, and AI will tell you whether it fits and which meaning you used.
Origins
Meanings 1–5
From 'over' plus '-ly', an ending that makes adverbs.
Meanings 6–8
From 'over' plus '-ly', an ending that makes adjectives.