squarely
Americanadverb
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in a square shape, form, or manner.
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directly; without evasion; in a straight or straightforward manner.
to face a problem squarely.
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in an honest or open manner; fairly.
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in a clear manner; unequivocally.
Our faith is based squarely on a commitment to the rights of all human beings.
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firmly; so as to come into direct contact.
The ball struck him squarely in the face.
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in the exact place that is specified; exactly.
The house sat squarely in the middle of the park.
adverb
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in a direct way; straight
he hit me squarely on the nose
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in an honest, frank, and just manner
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at right angles
Etymology
Origin of squarely
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 burden of escalation would rest squarely upon the aggressor; they and they alone would bear the full moral, political, and strategic weight of deciding whether to do so," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
The run of futility has lasted so long that the once unthinkable notion of benching Underwood has landed squarely on the table.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
But for now, the focus remains squarely on yields, especially with the start of third-quarter earnings season still a few weeks away.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
The Rams are squarely in the national spotlight with four prime-time games in five weeks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
His back was squarely turned to the house, and, looking at him honestly, she said, “I’m sorry. I’m terribly sorry, really.”
From "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson
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.
