merely

[ meer-lee ]

adverb

1. only as specified and nothing more; simply:

   merely a matter of form.

2. Obsolete.
   1. without admixture; purely.
   2. altogether; entirely.

ˈmerely

/ ˈmɪəlɪ /

adverb

1. only; nothing more than

Word History and Origins

Origin of merely¹

First recorded in 1400–50, merely is from the late Middle English word mereli. See mere ¹, -ly

Example Sentences

"Earnings growth is a much bigger driver than merely election outcomes or who’s in control"

From Salon

India's Supreme Court has said that authorities cannot demolish homes merely because a person has been accused of a crime and has laid down strict guidelines for any such action.

From BBC

Experts in the potholes and pitfalls facing writers — especially investigation-minded or merely activist journalists — say they’ve received a rising number of inquiries from those considering launching a freelance career.

From Los Angeles Times

News website readers were only less so because the survey didn't distinguish between legitimate sites like Salon and bunk outlets like Breitbart, but still: merely being a person who reads stuff makes you more liberal.

From Salon

What many drivers did not realize was that Lyft would not be giving them a $975 bonus but merely paying the difference between what they had already earned and what the program guaranteed.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barely
• only
• quite
• simply
• solely