adverb
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in a pure manner
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entirely
purely by chance
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in a chaste or innocent manner
Etymology
Origin of purely
First recorded in 1250–1300, purely is from the Middle English word purliche; see pure, -ly
Explanation
Anything described as purely is consistent or restricted in some way. Kids often think of their teachers purely as teachers and can’t imagine them outside the classroom. So they get purely confused when they see a teacher at the store. Something pure is made up of only one thing, like a pure gold ring. When anything is described as purely occurring or existing, it is similarly strict. A purely business-related letter is only business. A purely platonic friendship is not romantic at all. A purely bred dog has been bred only with dogs of the same breed. Someone who wants a dog purely for the sake of companionship will not bother with a purely bred dog.
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.
The rules affect content made for professional reasons, and the EU insists individuals using AI in a purely personal capacity will not be affected.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
However, not everyone views the depleted US stockpiles as purely a liability.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
A preoccupation with what others have on their shelves might be purely aesthetic, but often conveys something more, like a sense of judgment.
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026
China says its nuclear system is purely defensive and that it maintains a no-first-strike policy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
These, too, were called sciences—but philosophy and theology were purely conceptual explorations that lacked an accompanying applied skill.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
