-ly
How actions happen
The suffix -ly transforms adjectives into adverbs: quick becomes quickly, careful becomes carefully.
It indicates manner—how something is done.
Less commonly, -ly attaches to nouns to form adjectives meaning "having the qualities of": friendly, ghostly, kingly.
Some words ending in -ly function as both adjective and adverb: daily, early, likely.
At high speed
- slowlyAt reduced speed
- carefullyWith deliberate attention
- quietlyWithout making noise
- gentlyIn a mild manner
softly · loudly · suddenly · gracefully · smoothly · roughly · swiftly · calmly
To great extent
- greatlyTo significant degree
- extremelyTo an intense degree
- completelyTo the fullest extent
- totallyTo the full extent
fully · partly · mostly · largely · entirely · slightly · deeply · utterly
Per diem, repeated
- weeklyEvery seven days
- monthlyOccurring each lunar cycle
- yearlyOnce per annum
- hourlyOnce each sixty minutes
nightly · annually · quarterly · biweekly · fortnightly · regularly · occasionally · frequently
quickly
At high speed
gently · softly · loudly · suddenly · gracefully · smoothly · roughly · swiftly · calmly · badly
highly
To great extent
- greatlyTo significant degree
- extremelyTo an intense degree
- completelyTo the fullest extent
totally · fully · partly · mostly · largely · entirely · slightly · deeply · utterly · absolutely
daily
Per diem, repeated
hourly · nightly · annually · quarterly · biweekly · fortnightly · regularly · occasionally · frequently · rarely
friendly
Showing kindness, warmth
lonely · deadly · ghostly · saintly · beastly · cowardly · scholarly · brotherly · sisterly · fatherly
northerly
From or toward top
inwardly · outwardly · upwardly · downwardly · heavenward · earthly · backward · forward · laterally