surely

[ shoor-lee, shur- ]

adverb

1. firmly; unerringly; without missing, slipping, etc.
2. undoubtedly, assuredly, or certainly:

   The results are surely encouraging.

3. (in emphatic utterances that are not necessarily sustained by fact) assuredly:

   Surely you are mistaken.

4. inevitably or without fail:

   Slowly but surely the end approached.

5. yes, indeed:

   Surely, I'll go with you!

surely

/ ˈʃɔː-; ˈʃʊəlɪ /

adverb

1. without doubt; assuredly

   things could surely not have been worse

2. without fail; inexorably (esp in the phrase slowly but surely )
3. sentence modifier am I not right in thinking that?; I am sure that

   surely you don't mean it?

4. rare.
   in a sure manner
5. archaic.
   safely; securely
6. sentence substitute willingly; of course; yes

Confusables Note

See sure.

Word History and Origins

Origin of surely¹

First recorded in 1300–50, surely is from the Middle English word surliche. See sure, -ly

Example Sentences

He surely knows much of his program’s future will be determined right now.

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” debuts next week, surely hoping to replicate or even outpace the Oscar-winning 2000 original, the fifth highest box-office earner among films that have won the top prize.

From Los Angeles Times

More immediately, tens of millions of people are already climate refugees, and hundreds of millions more surely will be.

From Salon

He has certainly sparked the fair pay conversation, and this second series will surely give the industry another bump.

From BBC

He is uncapped but surely can't be too far away from his debut.

From BBC

Related Words

• absolutely
• assuredly
• certainly
• clearly
• definitely
• evidently
• indeed
• inevitably
• inexorably
• plainly
• undoubtedly
• unquestionably