Overly - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Overly means excessively or to an unnecessary degree. It is used to describe something that is done more than needed, often implying exaggeration or imbalance, as in overly cautious.
Definition:
To an excessive or unnecessary degree.
Synonyms:
excessively, unduly, unnecessarily, extremely, inordinately
Part of Speech:
adverb
Antonyms:
moderately, slightly, insufficiently
Common Collocations:
overly cautious, overly complicated, overly sensitive, overly dramatic, overly optimistic
Derivatives:
overlie (verb), overlayer (noun)
Usage Tips:
Use "overly" to emphasize excessiveness; avoid redundancy with words already implying excess (e.g., "too overly").
Common Phrases:
overly attached, overly ambitious, overly enthusiastic
Etymology:
Derived from Old English "ofer," meaning "over," combined with "-ly" to form an adverb indicating excess.
Examples:
- 1. She was overly excited about the trip and couldn’t sleep.
- 2. The teacher thought his explanation was overly complicated for beginners.
- 3. He’s overly cautious and always double-checks everything.
- 4. Avoid being overly critical of others’ mistakes.