overly
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To an excessive degree.
Adverb
Examples
Parents can be overly protective of their children.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To a high degree; very.
Adverb
Examples
I'm not overly enthusiastic about meeting him.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “overly” mean?
To an excessive degree.
Is “overly” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.