# purely

/ˈpjʊɹɫi/ (US) · /pjˈɔːli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/purely
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. only or solely

adverb · CEFR B2

only for one specific reason or purpose.

For teachers: exclusively or solely; used to limit the scope of a statement to a single factor or motive.

- The decision to move was purely for financial reasons.
- The committee insisted that the selection process was purely merit-based, despite allegations of personal bias among the senior members.

Usage: Often placed before a prepositional phrase or an adjective to narrow the focus.

### 2. completely or entirely

adverb · CEFR B2

completely or totally.

For teachers: wholly or entirely; used to emphasize that a quality is present without any other elements.

- The story she told was purely fictional.
- The scientist argued that the phenomenon was purely physical and required no metaphysical explanation.

Usage: Commonly modifies adjectives to show a total state.

### 3. in a clean or moral way

adverb · CEFR C2 · Literary

in a way that is clean, honest, or morally good.

For teachers: in a chaste, innocent, or unadulterated manner.

- He lived his life purely, always trying to do the right thing.
- The poet spoke of a love that existed purely in the spirit, untouched by the complications of the material world.

## Examples

- The decision was purely based on cost.
- She chose the apartment purely for its location, ignoring the fact that the kitchen was tiny and outdated.
- While some critics argued the film had a political message, the director insisted that the project was purely an exercise in visual storytelling.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.