purely

[pyoor-lee]

adverb

1. in a pure manner; without admixture.

2. merely; only; solely.

   purely accidental.

3. entirely; completely.

4. innocently, virtuously, or chastely.

ˈpurely

/ ˈpjʊəlɪ /

adverb

1. in a pure manner

2. entirely

   purely by chance

3. in a chaste or innocent manner

Word History and Origins

Origin of purely¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, purely is from the Middle English word purliche; pure, -ly

Example Sentences

However Fars said that Talara's seizure was not taken as a measure against any other nation, but was a purely local matter.

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"I don't think purely using military power is going to work here, you need to complement that with other measures."

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"We simply don't know the effects in people using these drugs purely for cosmetic purposes," says Simon Cork, senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University in the UK.

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But American consumers probably aren’t buying luxury jewelry purely for its commodity value.

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These stories reflect a shift: rather than being purely thrift-driven, many older Chinese are spending on lifestyle upgrades, health and technology.

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Related Words

• altogether 
• completely 
• entirely 
• essentially 
• exactly 
• exclusively 
• merely 
• plainly www.thesaurus.com
• quite 
• solely 
• totally 
• utterly 
• wholly