-ly

a suffix forming adverbs from adjectives: gladly; gradually; secondly.: See Grammar note at adverb.
a suffix meaning “every,” attached to certain nouns denoting units of time: hourly; daily.

an adjective suffix meaning “-like”: saintly; cowardly.

Origin of -ly

Middle English adverb -li, -lich(e), Old English -līce (-līc adjective suffix + -e adverb suffix); Middle English adjective -li, -ly, -lich(e), Old English -līc (cognate with German -lich ), suffixal use of gelīc “similar to, like”; see origin at like¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use -ly in a sentence

The economy boomed rapid[ly], so my life was getting better and better all the time.
Teaching ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Chengdu, China | Matt Lombardi | May 20, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Fortunately, and oh so Nora-ly, she planned her own memorial service before she went.
Nora Ephron Memorial: Warm, Funny Tributes by Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Rosie O’Donnell | Rebecca Dana | July 9, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
But my faver says it's un-man-ly to be always kissing, and I did n't fink you'd do vat, Coppy.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II | Rudyard Kipling
To liggen, to lie, is a Northern form; I alter liggen to ly, which occurs in the next line.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems | Geoffrey Chaucer
"Prob'ly some old scissor bills that got a notion of hangin' on to their land," Scattergood said.
Scattergood Baines | Clarence Budington Kelland

I'd everlastin'ly seva' th' connections between that gentleman an' these here Ozarks.
The Shepherd of the Hills | Harold Bell Wright
Ef he done kilt dat woman, de white folks goin' to git him sho'ly—sho'ly.
The Winning Clue | James Hay, Jr.

British Dictionary definitions for ly (1 of 3)

the internet domain name for

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

British Dictionary definitions for -ly (2 of 3)

-ly¹

suffix forming adjectives

having the nature or qualities of: brotherly; godly
occurring at certain intervals; every: daily; yearly

Origin of -ly

Old English -lic

British Dictionary definitions for -ly (3 of 3)

-ly²

suffix forming adverbs

in a certain manner; to a certain degree: quickly; recently; chiefly

Origin of -ly

Old English -lice, from -lic -ly 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse