Merely
/ˈmɪə.li/
Definitions
Only; just; simply.
/ˈmɪə.li/
Used to emphasize that something is only what is stated and nothing more
I was merely trying to help.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're at a birthday party, and someone asks if you ate all the cake. If you only had one tiny slice, you could say, 'I merely had a slice,' meaning you didn't eat much at all. It's like saying 'just' or 'only' that amount!
👶 For kids: Just means only! Like, 'I merely want a cookie' means you only want one cookie.
More Examples
She is merely a friend.
He was merely joking.
How It's Used
"I was merely asking for a glass of water."
"The report was merely a summary of the previous findings."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
From Middle English *merli*, from Old English *mǣre* (“pure, unmixed, sheer, absolute”) + -ly.
The word 'merely' has been used in English since the 13th century, evolving from its Old English roots to its current meaning, to signify 'nothing more than'.
Memory tip
Think of 'mere' meaning 'just a little' so 'merely' means 'only a little'.
Word Origin
"pure, unmixed"