merely
and nothing more
How often you will meet it
Rank 805 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 22,585 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.011% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
adverb
- and nothing more also: simply, just, only, but I was merely askingit is simply a matter of time
merely in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
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Perhaps the secret of this was that his "pleasure" was never merely his own.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
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He was not really uncle anyway to Gloria, being merely her kind, good-natured, easily-coaxed guardian.
Gloria and Treeless Street · Annie Hamilton Donnell · Chapter 1
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Lord H-RT-NGT-N'S acceptance of the post of Prime Minister is considered to be merely a matter of time.
Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 · Various · Chapter 1
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The footman piloted them, merely touching his hat quickly to Emily, being fully aware that she could take care of herself.
Emily Fox-Seton · Frances Hodgson Burnett · Chapter 1