simply

[sim-plee]

adverb

1. in a simple manner; clearly and easily.

2. plainly; unaffectedly.

3. sincerely; artlessly.

   to speak simply as a child.

4. merely; only.

   It is simply a cold.

5. unwisely; foolishly.

   If you behave simply toward him, you're bound to be betrayed.

6. wholly; absolutely.

   simply irresistible.

simply

/ ˈsɪmplɪ /

adverb

1. in a simple manner

2. merely; only

3. absolutely; altogether; really

   a simply wonderful holiday

4. (sentence modifier) frankly; candidly

Word History and Origins

Origin of simply¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, simply is from the Middle English word simpleliche. See simple, -ly

Example Sentences

As the chart above shows, a stock doesn’t have to sell off sharply for overbought conditions to be worked off, as “it can simply consolidate for a period,” Morrison wrote.

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The older consumer isn’t simply buying the basics.

Read more on Barron's

The defendant's lawyer told reporters after the ruling the driver "felt deeply ashamed that it led to a trial," as "he was simply hungry in the early morning and ate a Choco Pie."

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After seeing no other explanation, the person said, the officials wondered whether the Air India crew might have simply shut off the engines shortly after takeoff.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Yet the subtext is less important than the surface: The movie is simply a witless bore.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• commonly 
• directly 
• easily 
• honestly 
• naturally 
• openly www.thesaurus.com
• quietly