# overly

> English word · Adverb · frequency rank #9,224

## Definitions
1. To an excessive degree.
2. To a high degree; very.
3. Superficially.
4. Carelessly, without due attention.
5. With a sense of superiority, haughtily.

## Etymology
From over + -ly (adverbial suffix).

## Easily confused with
- **overt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overly-vs-overt)
- **overtly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overly-vs-overtly)
- **over** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/over-vs-overly)
- **ovary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ovary-vs-overly)
- **openly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/openly-vs-overly)
- **overdo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overdo-vs-overly)
- **overall** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overall-vs-overly)
- **overlap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overlap-vs-overly)
- **orderly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/orderly-vs-overly)
- **overlay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overlay-vs-overly)

## Common misspellings (9)
`oevrly`, `ovelry`, `overlly`, `overlyy`, `overrly`, `overyl`, `ovrely`, `ovverly`, `voerly`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/overly