What does levelly mean?
Levelly is an uncommon adverb meaning in a level, even, or uniformly flat manner. It describes the manner in which something is placed, moved, cut, spread, or otherwise arranged: a board may be fastened levelly to a wall, or cream may be spread levelly over a surface. The word is transparent in its meaning, deriving from the adjective level with the usual adverb-forming suffix -ly. Although readily understood, it is much less common than even, evenly, or level in contemporary English and may sound formal, literary, or old-fashioned. It is most useful when the precise idea is that two or more things align with the same height or that a material forms an even plane, rather than merely being handled without sudden movement. In ordinary speech, evenly is normally the more natural choice.
adverbIn a level or even manner; evenly.
- In a level or even manner.
"She smoothed the icing so that it lay levelly across the cake."
"The two pieces of timber should be levelly joined along their edges."
"He arranged the pebbles levelly across the tray."
A rarely used but transparent word for describing a surface that is perfectly even.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does levelly come from?
Levelly is formed within English from level and the adverb-forming suffix -ly. The adjective level comes through Middle English from Old French level, ultimately from the Latin libella, a small balance or level used by builders and surveyors. The suffix -ly had already established the productive pattern of converting adjectives into adverbs before this modern form developed.
How levelly is actually used
This is a formal but uncommon formation in everyday use; the standard modern alternatives are usually "evenly" and "level".