Meaning & use
simply
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
In a plain way that is easy to understand or do, without extra detail or decoration.
Grammar: Describes how something is done: explain it simply.
Patterns
- explain something simply
- live simply
The teacher explained the rule simply, using only two examples.
The room was furnished simply, with a bed and a desk.
They live simply in a small cabin by the lake.
adverbnot comparable
Used to stress that nothing more or other than what is said is involved; just.
Grammar: Placed before the word it stresses: it simply isn't true.
Patterns
- simply + verb
- simply because
I stayed home simply because I was tired.
You simply have to press the green button.
He is simply the best player we have.
adverbnot comparableinformal
Used to add force to a statement or opinion; absolutely.
Grammar: Emphasizes strong adjectives: simply wonderful.
Patterns
- simply + strong adjective
The view from the top is simply breathtaking.
Her cooking is simply wonderful.
That is simply not acceptable.
Common combinations
- simply put
- Simply put, we need more money.
- quite simply
- Quite simply, the plan failed.
- simply because
- He left simply because he was bored.
- simply amazing
- The concert was simply amazing.
- live simply
- They chose to live simply and save money.
- simply cannot
- I simply cannot agree with that.
Synonyms and how they differ
- just
- Just is more casual and common in speech, whereas simply sounds slightly more careful or emphatic.
- merely
- Merely often suggests that something is small or less important than expected, which simply does not always do.
- plainly
- Plainly focuses on how clear or obvious something is, rather than on how little is involved.
- absolutely
- Absolutely is a stronger intensifier and does not carry the sense of 'nothing more' that simply can have.
Opposites
Word family
- simple adjective
- easy to understand or not complicated
- simplicity noun
- the quality of being easy or plain
- simplify verb
- to make something easier or less complicated
- simplistic adjective
- treating a complex matter as if it were too easy
Commonly confused: simply or simple?
simply vs simple
Simple is an adjective, as in a simple plan, while simply is the adverb, as in explained simply.
Practice
In which sentence does simply mean 'nothing more than'?
Choose one answer.
In the third sentence simply stresses that fun was the only reason. In the others it means in a plain, uncomplicated way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “simply”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.