merely

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   Used to say that something is only what you state and nothing bigger or more serious than that.

   Grammar: Goes before the word it limits: merely a suggestion, merely wanted to help.

   Patterns

   • merely a something
   • merely do something

   It was merely a suggestion, not an order.

   I merely asked what time the train left.

   She is merely a student, so please be patient with her.

2. 2adverbnot comparableformal

   Used to stress that a fact is a small part of a bigger picture, often followed by a contrast.

   Grammar: Often appears in the pattern not merely X but Y.

   Patterns

   • not merely X but Y

   The law is not merely unfair but also impossible to enforce.

   Their goal was not merely to win but to change the sport.

Common combinations

merely a formality

The signing is merely a formality at this point.

not merely

The book is not merely a memoir but a history of the town.

merely because

Don't reject an idea merely because it is new.

merely mention

I merely mentioned the price, and he agreed.

is merely

The problem is merely a misunderstanding.

Synonyms and how they differ

only

Only is the everyday choice and can sound neutral, while merely often adds a tone of playing something down.

simply

Simply can stress ease or plainness, whereas merely stresses smallness or limited importance.

just

Just is more casual and is common in speech, while merely sounds a little more formal and written.

purely

Purely suggests nothing else is involved, while merely suggests it is less than expected.

Opposites

Word family

mere adjective

nothing more than, as in a mere child

merest adjective

the smallest possible, as in the merest hint

Commonly confused: merely or nearly?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “merely”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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