# overly

/ˈoʊvɝɫi/ (US) · /ˈəʊvəlˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overly
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. too much

adverb · CEFR B2

more than is necessary, helpful, or good.

For teachers: to an excessive or disproportionate degree; used to modify adjectives to indicate a negative surplus.

- I think you are being overly worried about the weather for the party.
- The manager was overly critical of the new staff, which led to a significant drop in team morale over the following months.

Usage: Usually placed immediately before the adjective or adverb it modifies.

### 2. very (in negative sentences)

adverb · CEFR C1 · Informal

used with 'not' to mean 'not very' or 'not particularly'.

For teachers: used in negative constructions to mean 'to a high degree' or 'particularly'.

- I'm not overly fond of spicy food, but I'll try a little bit.
- The shareholders were not overly impressed by the CEO's explanation for the quarterly losses, despite his optimistic projections for the future.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in the negative form 'not overly'.

## Examples

- The instructions are overly complicated for a beginner.
- The manager was overly critical of the new employee, which made the team feel nervous about making mistakes.
- While the initial proposal was sound, the final design became overly ornate, losing the minimalist aesthetic that the client had originally requested.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.