Word
surely
Phoneticssure·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈʃʊɹɫi/
UK/ʃˈɔːli/
Sentence adverb
Definitions
01expressing certainty or surprise
B1 · Intermediate
adv. you use this when you are almost certain something is true and you expect others to agree.
adv. used to express a strong belief that something is true, often with an underlying tone of surprise or an appeal for confirmation.
日本語:きっと※
“Surely you aren't going out in this heavy rain without an umbrella?”
“Surely the board must recognise that continuing with this strategy will lead to a significant deficit by the end of the fiscal year.”
Usage
Often placed at the beginning of a sentence to challenge a previous statement or to seek agreement.
Synonyms
02slowly but steadily
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. happening in a steady way that does not fail, even if it is slow.
adv. in a reliable, steady, or inevitable manner; most common in the fixed phrase 'slowly but surely'.
“The climbers moved slowly but surely toward the top of the mountain.”
“The legal team worked slowly but surely to dismantle the witness's testimony, uncovering small inconsistencies over several days of cross-examination.”
Usage
Frequently occurs in the idiomatic pairing 'slowly but surely'.
Antonyms
03with confidence
C1 · Advanced Literary
adv. doing something in a way that shows you are sure of yourself.
adv. with a firm, confident, or steady manner that indicates a lack of hesitation.
“She spoke surely and clearly, making everyone in the room listen.”
“The surgeon moved surely, his hands showing no sign of the fatigue that usually follows a twelve-hour shift.”
Teaching tip
In modern spoken English, 'confidently' or 'steadily' is much more common for this sense; 'surely' used this way often feels formal or literary.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “surely” in context.
Verb
01. surely agree with me
“You surely agree with me that this is the best option for the team.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
02. surely know that
“You surely know that the meeting was cancelled yesterday.”
adv + verb + that-clause
03. surely remember his name
“You surely remember his name since you worked together for three years.”
adv + verb + noun
04. surely understand the situation
“They surely understand the situation after we explained it so clearly.”
adv + verb + noun
Adjective
05. slowly but surely
“The project is moving forward slowly but surely.”
adv + adj
Etymology
From Middle English surely; equivalent to sure + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/surely
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0