purely

adverb

pure·​ly ˈpyu̇r-lē How to pronounce purely (audio)
Synonyms of purelynext
1
a
: to a full extent : totally
purely by accident
b
: wholly, exclusively
a selection based purely on merit
2
: without admixture of anything injurious or foreign
3
: simply, merely
read purely for relaxation
4
: in a chaste or innocent manner

Synonyms of purely

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Examples of purely in a Sentence

They met purely by accident. a selection based purely on merit The organization's mission, purely and simply, is to provide food to people who need it. It was purely and simply a matter of greed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tswalu was acquired by the philanthropic Oppenheimer family purely for environmental conservation. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026 Dolly’s original investment in Silver Dollar City, the park’s predecessor, was purely to give back to the community and support jobs in the area. — Carlye Wisel, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 As for the preseason wins and losses themselves, any resemblance to the reality ahead is purely coincidental. — Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026 But the issues with Liverpool’s rest defence aren’t purely structural. — Jon MacKenzie, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for purely

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of purely was in the 14th century

Rhymes for purely

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Browse Nearby Words

Pure Land
purely
pure minor scale
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Cite this Entry

“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purely. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

purely

adverb
pure·​ly ˈpyu̇(ə)r-lē How to pronounce purely (audio)
1
: to the full or entire extent
2
: without the addition of anything harmful or different
3
: for no other reason than : only
done purely for fun
4
: in an innocent manner
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