merely

[meer-lee]

See more synonyms for merely on Thesaurus.com

adverb

only as specified and nothing more; simply: merely a matter of form.
Obsolete.
1. without admixture; purely.
2. altogether; entirely.

Origin of merely

First recorded in 1400–50, merely is from the late Middle English word mereli. See mere¹, -ly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for merely

Contemporary Examples

Later reports say that authorities claimed to be merely escorting him back to his house arrest.
Russia’s Rebel In Chief Escapes House Arrest
Anna Nemtsova
December 30, 2014
“It was not merely the work in which he had constantly grown happier that he saw taken from him,” Howells notes.
The Novel That Foretold the TNR Meltdown
Nicolaus Mills
December 22, 2014
The final question we should ask: are they pursuing justice and the rule of law, or merely silencing those who embarrass them?
Sentencing Looms for Barrett Brown, Advocate for “Anonymous”
Kevin M. Gallagher
December 15, 2014
As Rathod noted, SIX is not supposed to be merely the opposite of ALEC.
The Left’s Answer to ALEC
Ben Jacobs
December 15, 2014
I hope I can be forgiven for finding this echo more than merely coincidental.
Meet Moses the Swashbuckling Israelite
James Romm
December 14, 2014

Historical Examples

It seemed, however, that he had merely been thinking intently.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
But can the safety of the state be secured by merely excluding the vicious poor?
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
Surface manifestations are, in and of themselves, merely deceptive.
'Tis Sixty Years Since
Charles Francis Adams
After all it might be nothing of vital importance, merely a girls' disagreement.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus
Jessie Graham Flower
Our pledge was not merely to do a patchwork job with secondhand materials.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various

British Dictionary definitions for merely

merely

adverb

only; nothing more than

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for merely

adv.

mid-15c., "entirely, purely," from mere (adj.) + -ly (2). Meaning "and nothing more" is from 1580s.

merely

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Related Words

Examples from the Web for merely

Contemporary Examples

Later reports say that authorities claimed to be merely escorting him back to his house arrest.

“It was not merely the work in which he had constantly grown happier that he saw taken from him,” Howells notes.

The final question we should ask: are they pursuing justice and the rule of law, or merely silencing those who embarrass them?

As Rathod noted, SIX is not supposed to be merely the opposite of ALEC.

I hope I can be forgiven for finding this echo more than merely coincidental.

Historical Examples

It seemed, however, that he had merely been thinking intently.

But can the safety of the state be secured by merely excluding the vicious poor?

Surface manifestations are, in and of themselves, merely deceptive.

After all it might be nothing of vital importance, merely a girls' disagreement.

Our pledge was not merely to do a patchwork job with secondhand materials.

merely

Word Origin and History for merely

adv.

Origin of merely