overly
Overly (adv) means to an excessive or unnecessary degree. Example: “He's overly cautious when it comes to spending money.”
How to use overly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishToo much — used right before an adjective to mean "excessively."
Always pairs with another adjective (overly cautious, overly sensitive) — it doesn't stand alone.
Word forms
more overly comparative, most overly superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He's _____ cautious when it comes to spending money.
Etymology
From over + the adverbial suffix -ly.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for overly
Frequently asked questions
What does “overly” mean?
The word “overly” means to an excessive or unnecessary degree. In plain terms, too much — used right before an adjective to mean "excessively.".
How do you use “overly” in a sentence?
Here is “overly” used in a sentence: “He's overly cautious when it comes to spending money.”
What part of speech is “overly”?
“Overly” is an adverb.
Is “overly” a common word?
“Overly” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between overly and too?
Overly and too both signal excess, but overly tends to sound slightly more formal or written, as in overly cautious, while too is more common in everyday speech, as in too careful. They are largely interchangeable before an adjective.
Is it correct to write overly excessive?
No, overly excessive is redundant because excessive already means going beyond a proper or reasonable limit. Since overly means to an excessive or unnecessary degree, pairing it with excessive repeats the same idea.
What kinds of words does overly typically modify?
Overly almost always modifies adjectives or adverbs to show they go too far, as in overly cautious, overly complicated, or overly generous, rather than modifying nouns or verbs directly.
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