DictionaryAI

merely

adverb
SayMEER-lee/ˈmɪɹli/UK/ˈmɪəli/

2 meanings of merely

Practice

  1. 1
    adverb
    Used to show that something is only one thing and nothing more.

    I merely asked a question. I wasn't trying to start a fight.

    This is merely the start of a much longer job.

    Similaronly, just, simply, purely, solely

    Note
  2. 2
    adverbobsolete
    Completely and fully, with nothing left out.
    It is not forgot, since the acute and distinct Arminius was perverted meerly by the perusing of a namelesse discourse writt'n at Delf, which at first he took in hand to confute.
    1644, John Milton, AreopagiticaHere, meerly means wholly or completely.
    Note

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Origin

It comes from the Middle English word 'mereli', made from 'mere' plus '-ly'.