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.
What ensues is, in a purely visceral way, wholly transfixing. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026 The next wave of successful launches will likely have a stronger sense of identity, functionality and recognizability, rather than relying purely on logo or heritage. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026 The state issues a letter grade to each school on an A through F scale, and while 80% of the grade is based purely on test scores, about 20% of the calculation is based on students’ year-over-year improvement. — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026 Any resemblance between the TikTok series and the real-life version of Chairman Tom Ricketts meeting his wife, Cece, in the bleachers is purely coincidental, a Cubs source said. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 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 4 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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