Word
merely
Phoneticsmere·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɪɹɫi/
UK/mˈiəli/
Adverb of degree
Definitions
01only or just
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. used to say that something is only what you mentioned and nothing more.
adv. used to emphasize that nothing else than what is mentioned is involved; functions as a synonym for 'only' or 'just' but with a more formal tone.
日本語:単に※
“The repair wasn't expensive; it merely cost five dollars to fix the pipe.”
“The witness claimed he was merely a bystander, though the prosecution argued his presence at the scene was far from accidental.”
Usage
Usually placed before the word or phrase it modifies.
02completely
C2 · Proficiency Archaic
adv. completely or entirely.
adv. used to indicate that something is absolute or total. This sense is no longer used in modern speech.
“The story he told was merely a lie from start to finish.”
“In the old records, the captain described the ship's destruction as being merely by the force of the storm.”
Teaching tip
This sense is found in Shakespeare and other early modern texts; learners should not use it in contemporary writing.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “merely” in context.
Verb
01. merely confirm the suspicions
“The leaked documents merely confirmed the suspicions that the public already held.”
adv + verb + noun
02. merely scratch the surface
“This introductory course merely scratches the surface of quantum physics.”
adv + verb + noun
03. merely serve as a reminder
“The old photograph merely served as a reminder of how much time had passed.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
04. merely suggest that
“I am not criticizing your work; I am merely suggesting that we try a different approach.”
adv + verb + that-clause
Adjective
05. merely curious about the outcome
“She wasn't worried about the results; she was merely curious about the outcome.”
adv + adj + prep + noun
06. merely incidental
“The financial gains were merely incidental to the project's primary goal of social reform.”
adv + adj
07. merely symbolic
“The new law was criticized for being merely symbolic and lacking any real enforcement power.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“These expectations were thwarted – but dial your expectations down merely to spiky and interrogative comedy, and they will be amply rewarded.” “Such as the fact that so much of the pleased-with-itself “experimentalism” of the 1960 to 1980 period was merely a retread of things that had been done better before.” “For others, they are merely another vehicle for tech firms to hype up their powerful models and compete with rivals.” Etymology
From Middle English mereli, equivalent to mere + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/merely
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0