adverb
-
in a pure manner
-
entirely
purely by chance
-
in a chaste or innocent manner
Etymology
Origin of purely
First recorded in 1250–1300, purely is from the Middle English word purliche; pure, -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While this energy use can be measured physically, the experience of effort is not purely mechanical.
From Science Daily
From a purely rational perspective, this is bad politics.
From Salon
As Mr. McPhee notes, resurrectionists “performed the service illegally, immorally, and purely for the money, but it was a service nonetheless.”
"This is a big game, purely because we're walking out there representing England," he said.
From Barron's
U.S. officials denied that, saying the proposed antidumping duties were set according to purely technical criteria.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
