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

And if Trump is to be believed, Musk and Ramaswamy will merely “pave the way” for Trump’s administration to implement the recommendations and “dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.”

From Slate

White Correal said the buyer "said something beautiful to me: 'I'm exceptionally happy that I won this lot; but I don't own it, I'm merely the custodian until the next person will come along'."

From BBC

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

From Salon

“Our data have shown us over time, it’s really still about the economy, and earnings growth is a much bigger driver than merely election outcomes or who’s in control,” said Rob Haworth, senior investment strategy director for U.S.

From Salon

In a staff report, it said it would probably prove too costly for many developers and could significantly reduce the construction of housing, including units that are mandated to have rent affordable for low-income households, not merely rent-stabilized.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barely
• only
• quite
• simply
• solely