openly Syllabification: (o·pen·ly)Pronunciation: /ˈōpənlē/Translate openly | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of openly adverb without concealment, deception, or prevarication, especially where these might be expected; frankly or honestly:he could no longer speak openly of his problemsOrigin: Old English openlīce (see open, -ly2)openly in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of openly in the British & World English dictionary