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.
Yet, the many physicists and chemists involved in this fundamental research did so purely to find out what makes nature tick. — Mattanjah De Vries, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026 Homeowners are moving away from purely visual landscaping and toward multi-sensory designs that incorporate touch, scent and sound for passive therapeutic benefits. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026 But toward the end of the seventeenth century, sporting artists also began to take on commissions from pet owners, creating art that celebrated dogs who were valued purely for their relationships with their owners. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026 The only major hyperscaler currently using purely optical circuit switching in an AI data center today is Google, which built a system that uses tiny mirrors, known as MEMS, to direct the light signal. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 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 Nov. 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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