Merely: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to emphasize that something is insignificant or unimportant.

• He is not angry; he is merely tired
• It was merely a suggestion, not a final decision

Used to indicate something happening at the moment or recently, to make a statement precise, or to downplay an element of the situation.

• I just saw her leave the building
• It's just a scratch, nothing serious

Indicates exclusivity, the single one or no more than.

• She is the only one who can solve this problem
• You have only five minutes left

Used to indicate something is easy to understand or straightforward, or to emphasize plainness and lack of complexity.

• The recipe is simply delicious
• He simply doesn't care about the rules

Used to emphasize that something is less important or smaller than it seems. It can sometimes imply a sense of insignificance.

• He was merely a boy when he joined the army.
• It's merely a scratch, no need to worry.

Used to emphasize that there is no more or nothing else besides what is mentioned. Often used to point out exclusivity or limitation.

• She was the only one who knew the answer.
• There are only three cookies left.

Often used to indicate something that happened a short time ago or to emphasize something that is exactly or precisely true.

• I just finished my homework.
• It was just a misunderstanding.

Emphasizes ease or straightforwardness, often used to make something clear or to indicate that something is easy to understand or do.

• You simply press this button to start the machine.
• It's simply the best solution available.