-ly Changing the Meaning

cleanly 

He vaulted cleanly through the open window. (smoothly)

closely 

study something closely (densely / compactly / thoroughly)

coldly 

We received them coldly. (in an unfriendly way)

coolly 

He behaved very coolly in this dangerous situation. (calmly / courageously)

dearly 

I love my parents dearly. (fondly / tenderly)

but pay dearly (with much loss)

deeply 

I was deeply hurt. / regret deeply (greatly)

directly 

I will tell you directly. (immediately)

easily 

He climbed the mountain easily. (without difficulty)

flatly 

‘You'd better go’ she said flatly. 

He flatly refused to go off. 

I applied the paint flatly. (little interest or emotion, absolutely, in a smooth and even way)

freely 

You may speak freely. (without restriction)

fully 

I fully understand. (completely)

hardly 

It hardly matters now. (scarcely / barely)

highly 

He is highly thought of. (very much)

hotly 

They denied the accusation hotly. (indignantly)

justly 

I am justly proud of my company (based on truth)

lastly 

Lastly, I would like to thank my parents. (finally / in the last place)

lately 

I have not seen him lately. (recently)

mostly 

I practised mostly all day (usually / mainly)

nearly 

She was nearly asleep. (almost)

presently 

He'll be here presently. (soon)

prettily 

eat prettily, behave prettily, be dressed prettily (in a pretty way)

rightly

It is easy as you rightly say. (correctly / justly)

sharply 

I was sharply reprimanded. (harshly / roughly)

shortly 

shortly after, shortly before (soon)

but to say shortly (in a few words)

surely 

He will surely win. (definitely with no doubt)

tightly 

Hold on tightly. The door was shut tight. (firmly)

warmly 

She welcomed us warmly. (in a friendly way) 

but warmly dressed = wearing warm clothes

widely 

widely different (to a large extent)

wrongly 

He was wrongly convicted. (unjustly)