# overly

**Pronunciation:** /ˈoʊ.vɚ.li/ · OH-ver-lee

**CEFR level:** B2

**Part of speech:** adverb

## Meaning

To an excessive degree; more than is usual, reasonable, or necessary.

## Examples

- She was overly concerned about the potential risks.
- The movie was overly long and could have been edited down.
- He seemed overly eager to please the new boss.

## Synonyms

- too — General excess, often informal.
- excessively — Emphasizes exceeding a limit or norm.
- immoderately — Suggests a lack of restraint or control.
- unduly — Implies an unfair or unreasonable excess.

## Antonyms

- sufficiently — To a degree that is enough.
- appropriately — In a way that is suitable or proper.
- reasonably — Within acceptable limits.

## Common patterns

- overly + adjective — Describes an adjective as being excessive. — The instructions were overly complicated.
- overly + adverb — Describes another adverb as being excessive. — He spoke overly quickly for me to understand.

## Collocations

- overly optimistic — He was overly optimistic about the chances of success.
- overly critical — The reviewer was overly critical of the new restaurant.
- overly concerned — Parents can be overly concerned about their children's safety.
- overly sensitive — She is overly sensitive to criticism.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/overly

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