# merely

Pronunciation: say "MEER-lee" US /ˈmɪɹli/, UK /ˈmɪəli/

## Adverb

1. Only; just; used to stress that something is no more than what is stated and nothing further.
   - Simple: Used to show that something is only one thing and nothing more.
   - _The repair was merely a temporary fix until the new part arrived._
   - _She wasn't criticizing him; she was merely pointing out a small error._

## Adverb

2. Wholly; entirely; completely, without any limitation or reservation. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Completely and fully, with nothing left out.

## Origin

From Middle English 'mereli', formed from 'mere' plus the suffix '-ly'.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/merely (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).