surely
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
How often you will meet it
Rank 832 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 21,847 times across 175,112 chapters — 0.010% 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
- definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”) also: certainly, sure, for sure, for certain, sure enough, sure as shooting the results are surely encouragingshe certainly is a hard worker
surely 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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Surely there must be a village down there.
The Water-Babies · Charles Kingsley · Chapter 1
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Surely not Lord Walderhurst himself, if he was human.
Emily Fox-Seton · Frances Hodgson Burnett · Chapter 1
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What the old Italian had heard, he would surely ere long repeat to Marius.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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Nevertheless, they worked as surely from the decks of these unstable craft as from the solid earth itself.
The Riverman · Stewart Edward White · Chapter 1
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It surely was good to see him again; this man who knew how to make them all swear by him.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1