overly
Americanadverb
adverb
Etymology
Origin of overly
before 1050; Middle English; Old English oferlīce. See over, -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
However, after long periods of clear skies this summer, the forecast for Friday morning is not overly positive.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
Given the phrase’s innate poeticism, it’s often used by scholars, authors, casanovas and perhaps overly didactic filmmakers to convey the fleeting intensity of life’s most burning joys.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
To his credit, Statham never attempts to act superior to the material — if anything, he overly commits to its cold tone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
“The reception was overly optimistic and creates expectations that we believe will be difficult to meet,” Graybosch wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
Mom offers in an overly hyper way, and she’s already speed-dialing my dad as she exits the bathroom.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
